{"product_id":"the-best-of-miles-davis","title":"The Best of Miles Davis","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis year marks the centennial of one of the 20\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ecentury’s most important cultural icons: trumpeter, bandleader, and composer\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMiles Davis.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eTo honor Davis’ enduring legacy,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCraft Recordings\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eannounces\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Best of Miles Davis\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e, a brand-new collection produced in collaboration with the artist’s estate. Available\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMarch 13\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eexclusively on vinyl, the album draws from one of the most defining eras of Davis’ career—his esteemed “First Great Quintet.” With\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn Coltrane\u003c\/strong\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRed Garland\u003c\/strong\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaul Chambers\u003c\/strong\u003e, and\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePhilly Joe Jones\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ealongside Davis, the collection highlights such seminal mid-’50s recordings as\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“’Round Midnight,” “Just Squeeze Me,”\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“My Funny Valentine.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn addition to the standard release on classic black vinyl, a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003elimited-edition pressing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eof\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Best of Miles Davis\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eis currently available exclusively at\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTarget\u003c\/strong\u003e, featuring\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAqua Blue vinyl\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eand, as a special bonus, a\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e5”x7” artist photo of Davis\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavis’ centennial will be celebrated throughout 2026 with a wide range of cultural initiatives, live events, brand collaborations, and archival releases—all overseen by the artist’s estate. For more information, visit\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMilesDavis.com\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrailblazing trumpeter, bandleader, and composer\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMiles Davis\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(1926 – 1991) remains one of the most influential artists of all time, whose drive to innovate never slowed during his extensive career. That pioneering spirit could be heard in his earliest days as a bandleader. A native of St. Louis, Davis moved to New York in the mid-’40s to study at the prestigious Juilliard School of Music. From there, he built a name for himself as a sideman for the likes of Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Coleman Hawkins, and assembled his first band—a nonet—whose recordings would eventually be released as\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Birth of Cool\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e(1957). But it was his first quintet, formed in 1955, that would forever change the musical landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFeaturing a then-relatively unknown line-up of tenor saxophonist\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn Coltrane\u003c\/strong\u003e, pianist\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRed Garland\u003c\/strong\u003e, bassist\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaul Chambers\u003c\/strong\u003e, and drummer\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePhilly Joe Jones\u003c\/strong\u003e, the formidable collective (known as “The First Great Quintet”) was instrumental in shaping the sound of hard-bop. With this ensemble, Davis established himself as a force to be reckoned with—both as a musician and a leader.\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Best of Miles Davis\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003efocuses on this pivotal era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOver the course of a year—from November 1955 to October 1956—the quintet recorded three marathon sessions at\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRudy Van Gelder\u003c\/strong\u003e’s storied Hackensack studio, resulting in a string of classic albums for\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrestige Records\u003c\/strong\u003e, including their 1956 debut,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eMiles: The New Miles Davis Quintet\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e,\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003efollowed by\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eCookin’\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(1957)\u003cem\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRelaxin’\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e(1958)\u003cem\u003e,\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eWorkin’\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(1959)\u003cem\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eand\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSteamin’\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e(1961).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese sessions were largely comprised of pop and jazz standards, including Thelonious Monk’s “’\u003cstrong\u003eRound Midnight\u003c\/strong\u003e” (off 1959’s\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eMiles Davis and the Modern Jazz Giants\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e), which would become a signature tune for Davis. The recording offers a strong example of the trumpeter’s pioneering use of the Harmon mute—a sound he embraced during this period and employed on introspective ballads such as “Duke Ellington’s\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“Just Squeeze Me”\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eand the Richard Rodgers classic,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“My Funny Valentine.”\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eAnother particularly emotive reading can be heard in the Harry Warren standard\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“You’re My Everything,”\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003ewhich features dazzling interplay with pianist Red Garland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Best of Miles Davis\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003ealso finds the quintet tackling two now-legendary compositions by a young Sonny Rollins—\u003cstrong\u003e“Oleo”\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“Airegin”\u003c\/strong\u003e—alongside another Monk tune—the up-tempo\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“Well, You Needn’t.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe collection closes with a brilliant performance of Davis’ own\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“Four\u003c\/strong\u003e,\u003cstrong\u003e”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ea track in which the band’s chemistry is palpable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the ensuing years, Davis—and many of his bandmates—would soar to international fame. Despite their brief time together, the quintet played a crucial role in shaping Davis as an artist, helping him come into his own as a bandleader and find his voice as a musician. Over the next three decades, he continued to innovate, shaping the sounds of post-bop and fusion while experimenting with electronic elements, funk, rock, pop, and African rhythms well into the late 1980s. Today, his vast catalog continues to have a far-reaching influence—extending well beyond the world of jazz.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Miles Davis","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57218319974735,"sku":"4811","price":30.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0887\/6785\/6975\/files\/The_Best_of_Miles_Davis.png?v=1773244862","url":"https:\/\/secondlinerecords.com\/products\/the-best-of-miles-davis","provider":"Second Line Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}