Customer Reviews

Blue Moods

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This CD is filled with wonderful, slow, relaxing jazz. The kind of music you listen to on a late evening, with someone you care for or in a mood to care for yourself. Miles, Monk & Co. were at the top of their creative energies when this was made. Their music is magical, on the level that mere mortal instrument players rarely achieve -- but then, these were no mere mortals. This music ranks among the best and most formative of all modern jazz, but here's a nice thing: it's so lovely and mellow that your non- jazz lover friends will easily love it also. I saw a gripe here on Amazon that the disc is "only" 27 minutes. Come on! The Beatles' Abbey Road, a milestone of a brilliant album, was 28 minutes long. Yes, this wonderful music is mellow and relaxing, but by no means in the universe is it "elevator" music. This is the real thing, so deep and warm it'll wash through you and soothe your soul, and be so rewarding that you can palay it over and over and still find new things to enjoy. This is great music, by musicians who stand on the pinnacle of all-time, brilliant and unequaled great jazz musicians. And it's nice, relaxing music to boot. You can't go wrong.

I just rediscovered this (on a record) after years and years of not hearing it and found it absorbing. Unusual instumentation on the front line (trombone, vibes, trumpet) and slow and restrained playing may leave some befuddled but I was struck by the discpline, beauty and compelling reticence of the playing. I know too much space can feel like hesitancy and a lack of conviction or passion, but the playing here is precise and often quite lovely. While its true this ain't John Coltrane's Elvin Jones these arrangements don't call for energetic splash and emphatic percussive color. Mingus's tone here sounds fat and great and what I liked too was that here was another side of Mingus you don't get to hear that often: that of a sideman. On this date he subordinates his dramatic capacity for leadership and takes on the task of being an ensemble member--very very successfully. Woodward and Charles contribute tasteful solos and Miles is really beginning to dig into the "hanging in air" fragility that makes his playing of a couple year's hence so memorable. Just a lovely (yes, short) recording.

Just read the reviews below, I can't disagree with them. Yes this IS short at about 27 minutes, but, it's got a few things going for it that makes it a much needed addition to anyone who has Miles in their collection. For one, it is one of the very few dates where Miles recorded with a vibraphone. When one takes a look at one of the only other dates where Miles recorded with vibes (the Dec 24 1954 Xmas Eve session with Milt Jackson & Thelonius Monk),you can see that Teddy Charles is a very different stylist than the blues-based Milt Jackson: Charles' vibes are all nice hazy mood and suits this date well.
When one gets used to the idea that folks like Charles Mingus and Elvin Jones aren't playing in their usual "hot-head" mode and that these folks actually could play moody ballads, well, there really isn't anything to apologize here about at all. For those who love Miles in his ballad mode, you simply can't go wrong here. Also, Miles is the only horn that really solos here (although trombone is present)which makes it different from most of Davis' best-known works.
I sure wish Miles recorded like this more often.
If you think you'll like this I have to also recommend "The Musings Of Miles" which was (chronilogically speaking)the recording session that took place just one month prior to this mid-1955 date and also featured Miles as the only horn (along with Oscar Petterson on bass, Philly Joe Jones on drums, and Red Garland on piano)and perhaps also the famous Dec 24 1954 session, which is in a bluesier mode, but also quite nice (though sadly, this session is split up between 2 seperate discs, "Miles Davis And The Modern Jazz Giants" and "Bag's Groove").

If you would like to get two Prestige albums in one, you can get the 4 songs from this cd on the 2007 reissue of Davis' Collector's Items (but they are not on the 1991 reissue with the bottles on the cover). The 2007 reissue also includes the song Conception, featuring Miles and Sonny Rollins (ts); Walter Bishop, Jr. (p); Tommy Potter (b); Art Blakey (d), from 1951.

Released on July 9, 1955, the recording technique only allowed the album to clock in at a skimpy 26:50. Do not let the lack of running time be the reason to jog past the classic album.

On the Debut Records label (Charles Mingus), the four selections - Nature Boy, Alone Together, There's No You, Easy Living - truly feature a pair of titans, Miles Davis and Mingus, with Britt Woodman, Teddy Charles and Elvin Jones.

This is truly a special release and one which cannot be ignored in the discographies of Davis, Mingus or Jones.

One of Miles' poorer efforts, Blue Moods was a misunderstood creature. Miles had a great band set up, but nothing really seemed to come as crisp as his other work from that period. Still, "Nature Boy", and "Easy Living" are great masterful performances from Miles. "Alone Together" is a bit aimless. This is a fine album, though, for tracks 1 and 4.

Miles was appreciated by critics because he was an innovator, and critics like anything different.

This, on the other hand, is not innovative. It is just like every other mainstream jazz album, noteworthy only for its excellence.

Very nice to listen to late at night when you want to relax.

I tend to agree with what's stated above. These are nice, laid back Miles Davis ballads. They are mainstream jazz quartet with vibes added.

The only drawback to a higher recommendation is the CD is only 27 minutes long. One would think the record company could find some more tunes to fill our the album.

This one is so far down on the list of best-sellers that I am relieved to have come across it at last. This record is brief, but very, very sweet . . . it is, after all, the musical quality that counts, and even though ideally this record should be twice as long, it has the complexity and variety that warrants playing it a second time if one wants to get up to the "normal' CD playing time. Remember, too, that some CDs are absolutely "stuffed" with unnecessary takes which before the CD arrived were usually for good reason not preferred for the LPs of the time. Anyway, Miles' s playing is absolutely fantastic here, and the title of the recording is wholy accurate; the music is that of the blues, and it is very "moody" as well - wistful, melancholic, sweetly nostalgic, but not sentimental (Miles was too great an artist for that). Miles is in excellent form, his co-players are also excellent, and this is a truly superlative record, that many more people should buy. You won't regret it if you do, never mind how short it is. It is certainly one of my favourites. - ...

I lovwe this cd, even though its so short. all the toons are serene and easy to listen to with your feetup and a toddy (cocktail for you yanks) this is what id call smooth/cool....a perfect combo of both. Its an earlier recording...which miles did on request and with Charles Mingus. Also the vibes are a nice touch.