Miles’ First Masterpiece: Birth of the Cool

Before Kind of Blue, a 21-year-old Miles Davis was already reshaping jazz with Birth of the Cool. In this episode, we explore how Miles teamed up with arranger Gil Evans and a chamber-like nonet to craft a sound full of singable melodies, tightly arranged horns, and forward-thinking restraint. With French horn in the mix, Gerry Mulligan and John Lewis’ arranging touch, and Lee Konitz’s lyrical solos, we unpack why this album – recorded in 1949-1950 and released years later – still lives up to its name.

0:00 – Intro
2:10 – Miles with Bird: The Bebop Background
7:54 – Gil Evans & Claude Thornhill’s Influences
12:54 – Move & John Lewis’ Arranging Voice
20:28 – Venus de Milo & Mulligan’s West Coast Impact
24:21 – Budo & Echoes of Bud Powell
30:17 – Sound, Fidelity & Miles as Maestro
37:30 – Godchild, Boplicity & Cleo Henry
47:00 – Rocker, Israel & Lee Konitz Killin’ Solo
52:55 – Darn That Dream & Kenny Hagood’s Vocals
55:40 – Desert Island Gil Evans Arrangement
1:03:20 – Miles Davis: Master of Space
1:10:50 – The Return of GALA

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