Originally released in 1957, Birth of the Cool compiles 11 songs recorded by Miles Davis and his cohort of musicians (they together through experiments / rehearsals at arranger Gil Evans’ New York apartment) between 1949 and 1950. It’s an influential LP that marks a major development in post-bebop, namely, as the title of the album implies, the birth of cool jazz. Musicians that took part in the 12-tracker are Lee Konitz, Gerry Mulligan, Al McKibbon, Max Roach, Al Haig and more, and some of the compositions included on this Capitol Music reissue are “Jeru,” “Move,” “Boplicity,” “Budo,” and “Moon Dreams.”

• music label: Capitol Records 1957 / 2016

reviewed by donut savage 10/2016