Known as a bit of a prickly pear, Miles Davis could have easily fulfilled his obligations to Prestige Records with a raise of his middle finger like Gaye or a corrosive stunt like Reed. Instead, he assembled a super-group featuring Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, "Philly" Joe Jones on drums, and (whoa!) John Coltrane on tenor. The quintet jammed through two-dozen tracks in two sessions that took place five months apart in 1956. With enough material for four LPs, Davis was free to move on to big-deal Columbia Records, and fans were treated to a wealth of new material.
The third of these, Workin' with the Miles Davis Quintet, is now getting a vinyl reissue on Craft Recordings, and it is, indeed, a treat. The music sounds as well considered and delivered as any Davis made before moving on to Columbia. The affair gets off to a meditative start with an enchantingly autumnal rendition of Richard Rodgers' "It Never Entered My Mind", but the temper heats up for a jollier, summery blast through Davis's own "Four" and a rip-snorting take of his "Half Nelson". The band is unbelievable, particularly Garland, whose ripples on "It Never Entered My Mind" and abundance of melodic ideas on "Ahmad's Blues", a trio-piece that doesn't even feature the album's two biggest stars, are among the album's highlights. The stars shine when Davis and Coltrane weave furiously and effortlessly together on "Trane's Blues" and "Half Nelson". Really, everything on Workin' is fabulous, and an obligation becomes essential.
Craft's re-issue is truly essential for audiophiles. Created via an all-analog process from the original master tapes, Workin' with the Miles Davis Quintet sounds like it was recorded yesterday on this latest re-issue. This is one of the most spacious mono records I've ever heard, the warmth of Garland, Chambers, and Coltrane sitting very distinctly across from the crunchier, shriller sounds of Jones and Davis. The vinyl is flat, well-centered, and very quiet. The cover is thick cardboard, old-school quality, with an obi for people who dig that sort of thing. This is the beautiful treatment a beautiful album like Workin' with the Miles Davis Quintet deserves.
