Customer Reviews

Cookin With the

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I really love this album and can't really expand upon all the wonderful comments made by others with regard to the music, performance, and importance of this work.

However, being such a fan of this album by Miles, I have 3 differerent versions of this album:

1. Fantasy/Original Jazz Classics; ASIN: B000000Y7F, ...

2. JVC; ASIN: B000044U0U, ...

3. Fantasy/Prestige "50th Anniversary Edition"; ASIN: B00000K0YD, ...

Of these, the ... release is notably inferior in its sound quality to the other two. Both the JVC and the Fantasy "50th Anniversary Edition" were given a 20-bit remastering using JVC's 'K2 Super Coding System'. Whether it was the technical factors of the K2 system or simply a gifted recording engineer that made the difference is impossible to know without hearing the original master tapes, but the end result is that the other releases sound notably better.

However, the JVC and '50th Anniversary Edition' are sonically indistinguishable from each other (for all I know, it may actually be the same re-mastering marketed under two different labels). The JVC version doesn't really offer any value-add over the '50th Anniversary Edition', so I would suggest ignoring that particular issue, as it offers poor value for money when compared to the '50th Anniversary Edition'.

On the other hand, I really recommend paying the small extra sum to buy the '50th Anniversary Edition' instead of the 'base' version on this page. The sonic improvements are definitely worth it!

5 stars for the album itself, but 2 stars for this particular issue.

this album, recorded the same afternoon as three other records (relaxin', workin', and steamin') with mr. davis's first stellar quintet (davis, john coltrane, red garland, paul chambers, and philly joe jones), is a masterpiece in every sense. mr. davis was in top form having now found his own voice somewhere between dizzy gillespie's and clifford brown's blistering bop trumpet and the west coast understatement of the horn. "my funny valentine" could be played over and over again and never stop revealing the nuances of the melody each soloist coaxes from the tune as they improvise its theme. "airegin" lets us know mr. davis could blaze right along with the best of them, but the closing ballad "when lights are low," sets us free with another study for quiet evenings and romantic fires. the quintet had jelled on this album and this truly is a group piece. miles always gave his sidemen plenty of room to stretch and even encouraged trios and duos to split off during the soloing so each man could shine in their own way. a classic record.

"Cookin, " "Relaxin," "Steamin," and "Workin," were all recorded in one afternoon in 1955 to fulfill Davis' contractuaral obligations to Prestige records so he could work full time with Columbia records.

The results of the 4 lps are varied, each with highs and lows (a noticably sad low is John Coltrane's playing on these sides, as Trane was battling, and losing to, any number of addictions from alcohol to overeating...Trane would soon take a forced sabbatical to get his life in order and Sonny Rollins would join the group), but the overall feel of all these sides are relaxed, with the group enjoying themselves.

Of wonderful note on these sides is the underrated piano of Red Garland, who, in more than one place, is allowed to lead himself, bassist Chambers, and drummer Jones, in a trio setting. The results were a very fine trio who would later record under Garland's leadership. Red's playing is simple- he loved to play block chords- and his soloing is basic yet very effective, blending well with his rhythm section battery mates.

On "Cookin," all members are focused on the 4 numbers at task, with "Blues By Five" being my personal favorite track. Miles' blowing on "My Funny Valentine" is pure and melodic, with more than a hint of emotion in it- and why it would remain a concert staple well into the late 60's.

This lp (as well as the other 3) are treats, and show the 1st great quintet (while not quite great yet- a clean and rejuvinated Coltrane would push the group to greatness) at ease and having fun.

You start out listening to Miles with 'Kind of Blue', maybe 'Sketches of Spain' or 'Bitches Brew'. This series of Prestige recordings is draw-dropping jazz; I defy anyone to listen to 'My Funny Valentine' and not be profoundly moved. Red Garland has been much maligned as a 'cocktail pianist' and has been overshadowed by Bill Evans and Herbie Hancock in the Annals of Jazz Revisionism. But it's Garland's sublime light touch that sets Miles up for that rasping whisper at the top of the mix. For me, this is Miles at his beautiful best -- it is the album I come back to time and time again. Get the whole series (Cookin', Steamin', Relaxin' etc) it is the greatest jazz education you could ever wish for. Play it in the bath. Float away for ever.

If I'm feeling depressed I put on this album. That's how uplifting the music is. Contained herein are THE definitive versions of three classics: Airegin, Tune Up, and My Funny Valentine. Miles' and Coltrane's solos begin to sound like immaculate compositions after you've heard them a few times. Oh, and Philly Joe Jones simply defines bebop jazz drumming on this release. Run, don't walk to buy this one.

This disc is a lot of fun to listen to. It was made as Miles was progressively improving. As one of the four recordings made by the group in a two day span, it's amazing how concentrated this effort is. Coltrane sounds amazing as usual, and Red Garland's astounding use of the left hand is prominent also. Paul Chambers sounds wonderful with a great bass sound we've all come to know, and Philly Joe's drumming is full of energy. There's a very nice version of "My Funny Valentine" here, complete with Miles's custom harmon mute. I felt Miles recorded the tune better later on, however this is also classic. "Blues By Five", a Garland tune, is a well known classic where everybody just jams. I love Miles's solo here, a perfect example of how he can take some simple improvisational ideas and make them amazing. I recall once in a 7th Grade Jazz Band I was soloing on the tune "Blues By Five" but did not play in the chord too well, the director told me to try again in rehearsal, so I just played Miles's exact solo note for note. He said that was "better". Such great memories come with this disc. Then there is a crazy version of Sonny Rollins's "Airegin", which is Nigeria spelled backwards. This tune was never one of my favorites, but Miles and the group do a great job with it. The best is saved for last, the medley of "Tune Up" and Benny Carter's classic "When The Lights Are Low". What motivated these guys to record these two tunes in one track still beats me, but it sure sounds great. You can't beat interaction this good.

A classic set. Every Miles fan should get it, especially if you're a fan of the first great Miles Davis Quintet.

Listeners whose experience begins with "Kind of Blue" need to be as open to what preceded as what followed that recording. "Round Midnight" is the lone Columbia album that captures the sound, cohesion, and special interplay of the Prestige sessions, on which Miles made it clear that 2-beat need not be consigned to dixieland or society dance bands: it can be as cool, hip, and swinging as 4/4 walking bass time. Moreover, the notion that Coltrane didn't yet have his chops together on the Prestige dates is simply misleading: the "presence" of his sound, the energy, the inexhaustible melodic imagination should prove he was near or at the top of his game. And Red Garland shows why he was and continues to be one of the most influential jazz pianists of all time (I know I've copied him more than any other pianist).

In 1955, Miles decided to leave Prestige for the larger and better known Columbia recording company, but he still owed Prestige 4 albums in order to fulfill his contract terms. So on May 11, 1956, and again on Oct. 26, 1956, he and his quintet, which included John Coltrane, went into the Van Gelder studios and layed down a long string of titles which went into the 4 albums; these albums were COOKIN', RELAXIN', WORKIN', and STEAMIN'. Sides from both sessions were intermixed on each album.

All the sides here are from the Oct. 26 date (in fact, they were the last titles recorded). All the tunes swing pretty hard, except the ballad feature for Miles (Trane sits out), MY FUNNY VALENTINE. BLUES BY FIVE is a good medium-up blues, and Sonny Rollin's AIREGIN is taken at a gallop. By this time the quintet was meshing pretty well, and all the music recorded on these dates is excellent.

This album contains my single favorite version of "My Funny Valentine" -- Miles and Trane sound absolutely right on to me. I've given this CD as gifts to people I know who love great jazz, and they've all loved it. The rest of the album holds up well, too -- this is after all one of the best quintets in the history of jazz-- but if you're like me, it will be "My Funny Valentine" that you want to hear over and over again.

It is always special to hear Miles play "My Funny Valentine," and this could be his best version ever as his playing is full of warmth and intimacy. The rest of the album, though, remains true to the title, as this band does cook. With a young John Coltrane to play off of, this proves to be one of Miles' most inspiring records.