Rock solid classic jazz material, hardbop in its purest form. The last recording of Miles Davis with an all-star band before he formed his legendary quintet together with John Coltrane. A truly enjoyable, versatile, timeless jazz recording, 1955, Miles Davis at his best. With some special characteristics: The only recording with Miles Davis and pianist Ray Bryant, who plays soundly here, not particularly flashy, but contributes the quiet, flowing, melancholy composition ‘Changes’, full of soul and romance. The vibraphone of Milt Jackson creates a wonderful additional sonic touch, accentuating both the rhythm section (world-class: Art Taylor and Percy Heath) and the expressionistic horns.

This is where it gets really special: Mr. Davis’ virtuosic, already unmistakable trumpet sound has been juxtaposed with Jackie McLean’s alto sax. Expressive, distinctive, and extroverted, one notices closeness to and heritage of Charlie Parker, but can also already sense the progress on his later Blue Note albums. Between the two horn stars, it must have been crackling during the session, they didn’t really get along very well. This seems to have benefitted Mr. McLean’s two original compositions – highly concentrated, full of tension and inspiration, the whole album sounds simply superb.

Alone the length of just over half an hour could have been reconsidered: longer solos, more Ray Bryant, an additional tune, but maybe Mr. Davis was restless and in his mind already at the next evolution level, the next stage of modern jazz. Either way – a wonderful record, all the way through.

Stefan Mohr