Title: Birth of the Cool Artist: Miles Davis Release Date: 1/21/1949 Re-Released On: 0/0/1950 Label: Capitol, Blue Note, Blue Note Japan, Capitol Jazz, Revolver, Toshiba EMI Duration: 35:29 Album Type(s): Instrumental UPCs: 4988006785281, 4988006843196, 724353011727, 077779286225, 5016681280421 Genre: Jazz Styles: Bop, Cool, West Coast Jazz Moods: Ambitious, Atmospheric, Confident, Elaborate, Elegant, Intimate, Lush, Manic, Melancholy, Nocturnal, Reflective, Reserved, Restrained, Sophisticated, Bright, Cerebral, Complex, Poignant, Cathartic, Dreamy, Freewheeling, Meandering, Rebellious, Sparkling, Stylish, Uncompromising, Aggressive, Brooding, Detached, Fiery, Intense, Ominous, Provocative, Refined/Mannered, Sprawling, Visceral, Amiable/Good-Natured, Druggy, Hypnotic, Romantic, Soothing, Volatile Total Copies: 2 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Move
2. Jeru
3. Moon Dreams
4. Venus de Milo
5. Budo
6. Deception
7. Godchild
8. Boplicity
9. Rocker
10. Israel
11. Rouge
12. Darn That Dream

Year Type Label Catalog # 2008 CD Revolver 804 2004 CD Blue Note Japan 9252 2004 CD Capitol Jazz 9252 2001 CD Blue Note 30117 2001 CD Blue Note 30117 1990 CD Capitol CDP7 92862-2 1990 CD Capitol C2-92862 ------ CD Toshiba EMI 6805

No other editions were found for this album.

So dubbed because these three sessions -- two from early 1949, one from March 1950 -- are where the sound known as cool jazz essentially formed, The Birth of the Cool remains one of the defining, pivotal moments in jazz. This is where the elasticity of bop was married with skillful, big-band arrangements and a relaxed, subdued mood that made it all seem easy, even at its most intricate. After all, there's a reason why this music was called cool; it has a hip, detached elegance, never getting too hot, even as the rhythms skip and jump. Indeed, the most remarkable thing about these sessions -- arranged by Gil Evans and featuring such heavy-hitters as Kai Winding, Gerry Mulligan, Lee Konitz, and Max Roach -- is that they sound intimate, as the nonet never pushes too hard, never sounds like the work of nine musicians. Furthermore, the group keeps things short and concise (probably the result of the running time of singles, but the results are the same), which keeps the focus on the tones and tunes. The virtuosity led to relaxing, stylish mood music as the end result -- the very thing that came to define West Coast or "cool" jazz -- but this music is so inventive, it remains alluring even after its influence has been thoroughly absorbed into the mainstream ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Haig Piano Al McKibbon Bass Aram Avakian Cover Photo Billy Barber Tuba Franko Caligiuri Reissue Art, Reissue Producer Gerry Mulligan Liner Notes, Sax (Baritone), Arranger Gil Evans Arranger Gordon Jee Creative Director Gunther Schuller French Horn J.J. Johnson Trombone Joe Shulman Bass John Barber Tuba John Lewis Arranger, Piano Johnny Carisi Arranger Junior Collins French Horn Kai Winding Trombone Kenny "Pancho" Hagood Vocals Kenny Clarke Drums Lee Konitz Sax (Alto) Max Roach Drums Micaela Boland Design Michael Cuscuna Reissue Producer Miles Davis Trumpet, Leader, Arranger, Main Performer Nelson Boyd Bass Pete Rugolo Producer Pete Welding Liner Notes Rudy Van Gelder Remastering Sandy Siegelstein French Horn Walter Rivers Producer