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Miles Davis
Steamin' with the Miles Davis Quintet
[Rudy Van Gelder Remasters]
(Prestige)
First Appeared in The Music Box, September 2007, Volume 14, #9
Written by John Metzger
Miles Davis had a knack not only for identifying young talent but also for
bringing out the best in them. There’s no question that the musicians that he
tapped to form his first classic quintet — John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul
Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones — were extraordinary performers, but left to
their own devices, the recordings that they made within the same time frame
largely were, for the most part, considerably lesser affairs. Davis’ leadership
and vision made all the difference in the world, and his guidance made it
possible for him to harness and focus his accompanists’ volatile chemistry.
Before Davis and producer Teo Macero began cutting, splicing, and reshaping
music via a series of complicated tape edits, the true test of a jazz band’s
merits was how well it could perform in a concert setting. In May and October
1956, when he took his quintet into the studio for a pair of lengthy recording
sessions, Davis knew he had something special that he needed to capture before
his crew grew restless. His plan was simple: he merely wanted to recreate the
spontaneity of his group’s gigs.
Running through its established repertoire, Davis’ quintet laid down enough
material to fill four albums — Cookin’, Relaxin’, Workin’,
and Steamin’ — each of which has been heralded ever since as a classic.
Although the latter outing served as the fourth and final chapter in the series,
all of its music — save for a cover of Thelonious Monk’s Well, You Needn’t
— was recorded during the first session that Davis held. Its flow is, perhaps,
its only flaw in that it feels less like a standalone set than the other three
installments. Nevertheless, its individual tracks are all stellar, and any
quibbles with its contents are relatively minor in comparison with the problems
that plagued many other outings from the era.
Steamin’ is marked, at least initially, by the Miles Davis Quintet’s
playful approach. Davis famously was a demanding and difficult boss, but any
notion that his ensemble wasn’t having a lot of fun performing together is
dispelled quite rapidly by the jaunty rendition of Surrey with the Fringe on
Top that opens the set. The band’s interpretation of this well-known Rodgers
& Hammerstein composition is remarkable. The rhythm section ably supports the
soloists by settling comfortably into a lilting cadence, and as the lead is
passed from Davis to Coltrane to Garland, countless ideas not only are planted,
but they also flourish with each subsequent reiteration of the melody. With its
gently loping gait, Diane follows a similar trajectory, evoking a
happy-go-lucky ambience that is irresistibly joyous. Similarly, Well, You
Needn’t buzzes with energy, while Dizzy Gillespie’s Salt Peanuts is
taken at such an alacritous pace that it can only conclude with a wildly
explosive volley of drums.
At the other end of the spectrum, at least from the perspective of
establishing a mood, are the ballads. Rather than brimming with optimism and
hope over what the future might hold, both Something I Dreamed Last Night
and When I Fall in Love are filled with the sorrowful yearning of eternal
loneliness. As the ensemble paints a gray, rain-soaked backdrop, Davis’ muted
trumpet seems to weep as it sings these heartbreaking laments. Making such
well-traveled terrain sound fresh and vibrant certainly isn’t an easy task. Yet,
by taking his collective into the studio under the pretense of fulfilling his
contractual obligation to Prestige, Davis succeeded not only capturing the
spirited magic and dusky beauty of his formidable quintet’s stage show, but also
in setting the bar for jazz a whole lot higher. 
Steamin' with the Miles Davis Quintet is available
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Other Rudy Van Gelder Remasters Releases
Andy Bey and The Bey Sisters - 'Round Midnight
John Coltrane - Stardust
John Coltrane with the Red Garland Trio - Traneing In
Miles Davis - Cookin' with the Miles Davis Quintet
Art Farmer - Farmer's Market
Red Garland Quintet - Soul Junction
Pat Martino - El Hombre
Jackie McLean - 4, 5 and 6
Sonny Rollins - Plus 4
Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2007 The Music Box
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