I love box sets. I love the music of Miles Davis. The Legendary Prestige Quintet Sessions is an awesome box set of all the recordings done by Miles most famous jazz group recorded on the Prestige Record Label. This is a nicely packaged four compact disc set.

What is the Miles Davis Quintet?

"Philly" Joe Jones provides the drums here, and William "Red" Garland is the piano player. On stand up bass was Paul Chambers. Miles Davis of course plays the trumpet for which he is so famous. Rounding out the quintet was legendary saxophone player, John Coltrane, who went on to his own famous career after playing and recording many famous albums with Miles.

What are the Prestige Recordings?

You may be familiar with a couple of Davis's most famous recordings, even if you aren't a big jazz fan. 'Round about Midnight is the first famous album with the Quintet, but it was on Columbia Records. Later with a sextet, still including Coltrane on the tenor saxophone was one of jazz's most famous albums Kind of Blue. However, before Miles recorded those famous Columbia albums, he was still under contract with Prestige. In only a couple of days in 1956, Davis and his quintet recorded Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet, Steamin' with the Miles Davis Quintet, Workin' with the Miles Davis Quintet and Cookin' with the Miles Davis Quintet.. This box set contains these complete recordings in one box on three compact discs. It also includes a fourth disc which features some rare unreleased recordings by the Miles Davis Quintet from television shows and radio broadcasts.

Track Selection - Just what songs did the Quintet have on the Prestige Label?

Disc One contains :Stable Mates / How am I to Know / Just Squeeze Me / There is no greater Love / The Theme / S'posin / In your own sweet way / Diane / Trane's Blues / Something I Dreamed last Night

Disc Two It Could happen to You / Woody n you/ Ahmad's Blues / Surrey with the Fringe on Top / It Never Entered My Mind / When I Fall in Love / Salt Peanuts / Four / The Theme / The Theme (take 2) / If I were a Bell / Well You Needn't

Disc Three 'Round Midnight / Half Nelson / You're my everything / I could write a book / Oleo / Airegin / tune up / When Lights are Low / Blues by Five / My Funny Valentine

Disc Four This disc is all rare and unreleased. It contains an intro by Steve Allen, Max is Making Wax, a second intro by Steve Allen, live versions of It Never Entered my mind / Tune up / Walking / Four / Bye Bye Blackbird / Walking and Two Bass Hit.

Packaging / Booklet This set is in a long box that opens up, containing 3 CDs set into the sides, and a fourth CD in its own box. In the center is a booklet that you slide out. The booklet contains many black and white photographs and a lot of information on Miles period with Prestige records and his famous quintet.

What about the Music?

Although this isn't the epitomy of cool like Round About Midnight or Kind of Blue or saxophone of another order like Coltranes masterpiece A Love Supreme, you can just hear that this group is on the rise. Although not altogether respected back in 56, the Miles Davis Quintet caught the ears of many critics, and it should catch your ear too. This is jazz of the mellow relaxed 'cool' variety, yet the horns of Davis, Coltranes sax solos and the jazzy piano of Garland keep things interesting. I am a huge Coltrane fan, and I really enjoyed listening to him playing the sax on this set of recordings. Obviously, it is Miles name in the quintet, so we hear his trumpet throughout (and when I was first exploring jazz, in all fairness, I found Miles before I found Coltrane, Miles Davis is a good starting point for a love of jazz). In fact, there are a few tracks herein which contain some really rocking drum solos by Jones!

How is the Sound Quality?

I was also very surprised by the quality of the recordings. Although the fourth disc has its ups and downs, the studio material is impeccable, and all in stereo. Yes, if you turn it up really loud, you will hear a bit of a hiss, but at a pleasant listening level, you really get a sense of placement of the band.

Summary

If you are new to Miles Davis, I would certainly start with his later more famous recordings with Columbia records. If you have nothing by him, I'd say go pick up Kind of Blue. However, if you have a decent set of Davis, this is a nice way to pick up two very productive days in '56 of a soon to be famous quintet in the recording studios of Prestige Records. I give it four stars.


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