Birth Of The Cool

Like with a lot of jazz, I respect the musical talent, but it just don't click with it.

Was it coincidence or the 1001 Gods working their magic that I dreamt last night playing a duet with a trumpet player (not Miles) last night? As an occasional Sax player for my own pleasure I have recently been trying to educate myself with Jazz. A genre I would have previous dismissed. An album titled Birth of Cool by Miles Davies in itself gives the impression that it should be on this list without any argument at all. As part of my jazz eduction I have bought Miles Davies albums. Kind of Blue (already reviewed) and Bitches Brew are two of these and albums I really like. I do not like this one as much. It’s OK but every track seems to follow the same jazz recipe - opening melody, each instrument solo, resolving melody. Which is fine but difficult to distinguish one track from another other than a random title. Whilst listening could not get the image of American GI’s dancing with northern town English girls in 1944 to this type of music. That gives anyone of a certain generation an idea of what this album offers. The other interesting thing was whilst reading the Wiki entry for the album I learnt what a nonet was. So an extra star for that enlightenment. 3/5 2/9/24

Lovely

classic! Favorite track: Moon dreams other picks: move, Venus de milo, rocker, boplicity

Good vibes, I don’t have the most discerning jazz ear

Bombic

Relaxing 3/5

Album 517 of 1001 Miles Davis - Birth Of The Cool (1957) Rating : 5 / 5 I do love my horns. Some awesome music to begin the day. Again, these older albums rate differently than those that came a few years later. Anytime is a good time for this album. Maybe not a funeral...but I think you know what I'm trying to say.

I love it! Will add it to my music for work playlist

"Birth of the Cool" is a solid Miles Davis album, showcasing his early experimentation with a more laid-back, orchestral sound. It's interesting and well-played, but not my top pick from his discography.

Great, but very background.

if you were to tell me that, prior to 1957, cool did not exist, and that it was, in fact, born with the coming of this album, i would absolutely believe you. what that man didn't know about cool wasn't worth knowing - and what he didn't know about moving the soul when he blew that horn...well, that's a real short list

This motherfucker right here

Thank you Miles, very cool!

seemed very cool to me.. I liked it.

Epic. GERRY MULLIGAN 🎷

A pure triumph of cool.

Good background music

Very cool, very cool.

I really hope not all jazz is like this.

Smooth and fast right out the gate.

Very smooth, very cool, albeit a little bit background-y as a consequence.

Very very good

Un pezzo di storia, purtroppo non riesco ad apprezzarlo appieno (e purtroppo ho dei problemi con i "the best of"), ma rimane un piacevole ascolto serale.

Loved it. 4/5

Miles davis.

Not his best, but still so great. Could (and did) listen to this for hours.

aynı şarkıymış gibi geldi hepsi yani arkaya açarsan resim falan yaparken sarabilir ama bunun dışında yok yine de güzeldi

Very cool, very jazzy, very fun to listen to. Four stars.

I'm starting to appreciate Jazz.

If someone asked me what jazz music is who had never heard it before I might show them this album. A lot of people say that Kind of Blue is a good album to start with when first listening to jazz. I feel like this one is much more accessible. Maybe Time Out would be another good one, but I think this is a contender. It’s not that it’s like beginner jazz, the musicianship on here is phenomenal. It’s just that it’s all very straight forward songs, they never go anywhere too experimental or weird like other Miles Davis albums.

Very jazzy jazz. My brain just won’t.

Pretty good Album to Listen to while surviving your daily life. Nothing for me to just Listen to. Was good for showering and getting ready

I think I am not smart enough for Jazz. The first song was enjoyable, the second and third or fourth disconcerting, the songs after that I enjoyed when I imagined people in underground Bars in the 50s having fun. The last song was strikingly contemporary and very beautiful. Overall not my type but sticking around for the last song made it worthwhile. It took too much of my brainpower to listen to it, I couldn’t just vibe or abschalt. Would probably kind of slap in a live performance though. I suspect Jazz is like wine and you have to build a taste for it.

Quality jazzity jazz! Hard to imagine this not already existing in humanity when it came out. Got a little same-y toward the end.

jazz instrumental, no lyrics, gotta be in the mood for it 3/5

Amazing album, beautifully sounded/

Classic jazz album! Crazy to think about what Davis went on to do with Bitches Brew, but can appreciate it all!

Really cool (haha pun) to listen to. Moon Dreams was probably my favourite just because it was more ominous/slower paced. But each one was a joy.

I’ve been wanting more jazz! Glad I finally got it. From what I understand, this list generally avoids compilation albums. This makes sense; a compilation album is designed to be incredible. It wouldn’t be fair, and then the list would be boring if it was full of compilation albums. So why this is here is interesting to me. But hey, I’m not complaining. Give me Miles Davis in any form and you know I’m here for it. This is no exception. The man exudes a swagger, a confidence, a powerfulness in his music. Every single track is a masterclass in mood and tone in jazz. Beyond his technical proficiency lies a this emotional being that takes over his sound and produces music that just hits the spot. There really isn’t much more to be said. He’s one of the giants in jazz and music in general, and this is something to marvel at. The only reason it’s getting four stars is because it’s a compilation album and it wouldn’t be fair to give it five. Standout Tracks: Move, Venus de Milo, Budo, Godchild, Rocker, Rogue

Cool jazz. Loveyit!

Not my thing

I liked this okay. It's good background music and he is incredibly talented but it's not something that I seek to listen to.

Yeah, nice jazz, but not 'Kind of Blue'.

My experience with jazz is minimal. I have listened to "Kind of Blue", by Miles and like that very much. This is a collection of songs that for lack of a better word are "jazzier", than KOB. I still like KOB better, but enjoyed this very much. The musicianship is truly on point.

Pretty cool. Pretty chill. Good for a dinner party

Nice easy cooking supper music

I prefer later stuff in Miles Davis’ catalog, when he gets more experimental. But this is still a straight up fun jazz record.

Fav: Jeru Least Fav: Moon Dreams

An album everyone says you should listen to, but I never have. Good but not great. Kinda just fell into the background while I was listening.

My ear isn’t tuned for jazz but I can’t imagine it gets any better than this!

I mean, it is pretty cool.

Still not a jazz fan

Obviously a great album, but a little basic as far as Miles Davis goes.

I like it. But it's not very sticky to me.

I didn't hate this jazz

2.5 - it don't dislike it but i would never listen to it in my spare time.

If listening to Miles Davis is cool, then consider me peeing my pants. 3.7.

Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5

The title would have you assume that cool would be birthed in this album. Unfourantely I didn't hear such a thing. My Favourite track of this album was Rocker with its dilightfully simple and recognisable theme, and somewhat interesting solos, with Rouge coming in a close second. I enjoyed the few drum solos featured, as I am a sucker for any drum solo. The rest of the album seemed a little uninspired with a lack of catchy or recognisable themes, but then again that is not what jazz is known for. The improvasiation was impressive but once again didn't tickle my ear drum in any way (I hope you get a good mental image from this analouge). Overall, kinda mid jazz album imho.

Rated July 27th 2024 Unfortunately this didn't do anything for me. :/

Traditional jazz - nothing experimental. Good but not great.

I've never been into jazz; unfortunately, this album did not change my mind about it. 2 stars

Enjoyed this quite a lot.

It's probably blasphemy rating this a 3, but I've never really been into jazz.

#55 - Amazing Miles as usual marking a before and after in the evolution of jazz. Very good but it doesn't tickle me as much as Kind of Blue.

Always a fave.

🎧I don’t really know “cool jazz” from “bebop” or really an other jazz styles for that matter, but what I do know is this is excellent.

Backgroundy Jazz. It's just never going to be my thing, as cool as this is, I don't really see myself choosing to come back and listen to it again.

Lovely album

Это вам не bitches brew и get up with it. Просто сборник коротких джазовых номеров. Ничего необычного Добавил 1 звезду за то что это просто приятно слушать. Скип после третьего трека.

6.5

Yes, it is Interesting to learn most of them are not Davis' arrangements and that they were all just hanging out. The instrumentation is so unique and lends even more to the lyrical harmonies of the album and the future of Cool Jazz

Ok as far as jazz goes i try, sometimes I like it most of the time I dont. As far as Miles Davis goes I love Kind Of Blue so looking forward to this but with Miles you don't know what your going to get. This fell more towards the Kind Of Blue side of things and was rather enjoyable.

Embora não seja o tipo de jazz que mais curta nem meu álbum favorito do Miles Davis, acho impossível não dar 5 estrelas para esse disco.

Talented. Not my cup of tea, but high quality sounds

Just now learning of the musical genre “cool jazz.” If anyone personifies that moniker, it would be Miles Davis.

this was absolutely fantastic. Just absolute joy everywhere. it's no wonder that miles davis is considered one of the greatest to ever do it -- putting jazz on the map for so many types of people and doing it absolutely flawlessly. timeless and beautiful!!!

I love Miles Davis, but this album sounds mediocre until you read about it and find out all the planning that must have gone into who would play what when. It was very much a background album for me while driving. Nothing wrong with it except for how standard it sounds. Miles usually wows me, but Birth of The Cool doesn't wow me all that much. It's fine. It's great for background music, but otherwise it sounds pretty standard for jazz.

This is probably a very good jazz album, but I am not a fan of jazz at all, so it is 1 star or F for me.

Birth Of The Muzak

He pissed his pants. Adam Sandler told me so.

I have a soft spot for 50s music due to my love of the fallout video games

Pretty damn chill and fun

It kinda feels like I'm on the longest elevator ride of my life, but I can't say that I'm particularly upset about that...

Although this lacked the funkiness of Herbie Hancock’s “Headhunters” or the vocals of John Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme”, the musical talent is on full display. It was a short and sweet experience, but not enough to get me fully immersed in the genre.

Not as good as the other Miles Davis albums.

3 decent jazz

Hey all you hep cats…dig this! You’re now…hip! Good stuff.

An excellent easy listen. Certainly lives up to being "cool" with its sound. There's inherently something cool about all jazz in my opinion, and this is an excellent showcase of fantastic jazz. A must listen for anyone who appreciates older music

2/12, 17%

Not the best Davis album but still interesting enough ;)

Didn’t enjoy as much as the more Freeform long play stuff we’ve already had - still good though.

I am generally not a fan of Jazz but I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would, more upbeat than expected

Lovely stuff

not my cup o tea

Cool jazz.Correcto.

I’m not typically into jazz, but this was enjoyable. Good reading music

From what I understand, this was a bunch of singles recorded over an extended period of time. And by the time it came out it was already past the height of Cool jazz. This album is very well packaged. The songs work conceptually and play very easily into the others. The band is on fire and Miles is devastatingly good. Also I love the fact that I got jazz on a Friday!

Yup. That is all my friends. Yup.

As for Jazz albums goes, it's cool, but not my scene. Amazing trumpet work.

Not his best album but still really good.

Fine cool jazz

bão pra tomar uma em nova orleans. Só músico bom, porém cansa a mesmice instrumental.

Love it!

Too jazzy!!

I don't think I could ever put an album like this above a 2. It's fine, makes great background music whilst I'm doing other things but try as I might I just don't get it

Coisas boas da maturidade chegar foi a capacidade de realmente achar legal escutar jazz.

*{nod, nod}* That's some cool jazz alright. I mean, I'unno. I'm no expert on what makes this jazz specifically so cool, but it's real good shit, at any rate. Gets me exicted to hear the other Miles Davis that're no doubt on here. Well, excited as I can anyway for an album as cool as this.

Just some cool ol' jazz from one of the best to do it.

Probably no surprise that I’m at a 5. I’m not gonna be verbose about it: this is a really fucking good jazz album. Every composition here is really well done, and I enjoyed the entire runtime. Not a single lull for me, nor a single miss, or even a single problem with the mixing or production, which is a little wild for a 50s album. I fell into a deep bliss during that, which makes me really terrified for whenever we get Kind of Blue, because this album has already set a high bar for me, and I know the critical acclaim that Kind of Blue has. Regardless, this is just a spectacular album to me, and I’ll easily come back to this often as studying music or reading music. It’s very deserving of a 5.

I dig jazz and all but these are just so samey samey sounding. I couldn’t tell you which one I liked more or less than any other. Good background music though.

Cool jazz.

Shory, fun jazz album. Easy to listen to.

Miles Davis giving me hope with Jazz. Another good one from him.

5 stars by virtue of being miles davis

Coolness abounds indeed!

This is probably the most accessible jazz album from this era that I've listened to. The songs are creative and musically impressive, but without challenging the listener too much with complex time signatures. On here I like Move, Moon Dreams, and Rouge the most.

#265. I mostly just skipped through. I simply cannot be bothered to spend any more actual time listening to jazz for this playlist. 2/5: jazz Song added to playlist: Venus De Milo I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link

I like a lot of stuff from Davis. For some reason this album misses me. Hoping that some of my favorites landed in this list but time will tell!

I know it’s cool to like this so I’m giving it three stars and not listening to it again

Classy, impressive So not me, I can’t even I was not born cool

Definitely cool.

2.5. first Jazz of this list and enjoyed listening. Needs revisiting to pick up on details of songs

Day171 - gimme that cool jazz. i wish i would have got this album on a sunday morning but im glad i got it.

I thought I'd enjoy this (So What is a fave) but it didn't quite grab me. Maybe I needed to be listening to it in a different context, something more moody than the reality supplied by the 2020s

The king.

- Ich habe langsam das Gefühl, dass ich diesen vielen Jazz-Alben nicht wirklich gerecht werde. Alle lösen bei mir ein ähnliches Gefühl aus und werden dann dementsprechend ähnlich bewertet. So auch hier: - Wieder ein Platte, wo ich zu keiner Zeit des Durchhörens wusste, wo ein Song aufhört oder ein neuer anfängt. War wieder mal eine Gesamt-Experience. Die war aber geil. 3,5/5

Entspannte Jazz Session

I used to listen to this album on rainy nights, haven't had one of those in a while, but I need to keep this album in mind for the next one.

Im not a big fan of Jazz, but this I enjoyed. My favourite track was Moon Dreams because it was a nice calming track, not just a loud trumpet. I probably wouldn't listen again because these albums are not really in the genres of music I listen too.

Cmon now this is beautiful music, you cant even deny it. Even if it’s not your thing or you hate jazz, you can still tell that this is it at its peak. I do feel like you have to be in the right mood/setting for it to hit best though. Now excuse me while I light this cigar.

It's Miles Davis. Of course it's great - this album changed the course of modern jazz after all! And yet - I remain a bit untouched by this, as if this is talking to me from a distance. Where later stage Davis takes me by the guts, this does not grab me. There is a politeness to it today, maybe unfair because I am obviously receiving it 70 years after it was shared with the world and subsequently influenced thousands of musicians. To the non-musician I am, it sounds a bit formulaic and... Boring?

Laid back, mellowed out, straight up cool fuckin' jazz. Perfect for the golden age of post modern classic jazz. The swing tempos and floaty movements borrow from classical music, calm and composed movements of soloing and bridge sections allow the band to show off a big but it isn't quite a risky move sonically. Miles is notable for dictating jazz with a lot of feeling while keeping it cool to the ear. The Birth of Cool is certfiable gold.

Sorry to say, but this is just horrifically boring to me. Instrumental background jazz does nothing for me.

I’m not a jazz fan, but I occasionally like a more moody song than what’s on this album.

It's Miles Davis, I mean come on. Of course it's good!

Cooooooool Jazz. Squidward would be proud

Classic Miles

Not a real album, sorry. Still cool as hell. Best enjoyed with a glass of whiskey by a fireplace. I had half of that.

For a jazz album this is not too bad, but I still don't give a toss about it.

The sound of the ensemble is very unique as there isn't often you have this group of instruments. I like the way each provide a different texture to the overall sound. All the tracks are good, the limitation is the shorter tracks not feeling like the experimented too much.

I don't understand jazz enough to have any idea, really. You know what though? Sounded cool.

Pretty good, I like this better than the other Miles Davis album.

Favourite song - deception

It doesn’t engage in the obvious boundary-pushing that some of Davis’s later albums do but I must say I enjoyed this more than some of his ‘classic’, Kind Of Blue style stuff. The spiritely-yet-chilled tunes on this album actually serve to lighten my mood rather than depress me, and I do prefer my jazz in snack-sized chunks.

Very cool indeed

Buen rollazo de Miles Davis y su banda. Parece hacerte viajar a un Pub en el que te encuentras tomando algo escuchando la música de fondo. Es muy cool, quizás ninguna es memorable y eso le resta el poco que para mi le quita valor, por lo demás el sonido aunque suene antiguo, es muy chulo, y tiene todo un swing flipante.

This album created a liminal space inside my head. It was very pleasant but also hard to review for that reason. Favourite track: Moon Dreams.

It's hard to imagine in 2024, but when this was released it was something new an different than "mainstream" jazz at the time. Its a great jazz record, even if its not my favorite style of jazz, or my favorite Miles Davis album. It has a lot of great material to come back to.

Wonderful

Jazz horns

This is jazz! Personally I don't know what's good or bad jazz. I can say that I wasn't bored, but I wanted to finish it sooner than later... 3/5

Fine but much prefer his later work.

Not my favourite miles davis album, but still an absolute jazz classic of course. A masterclass in melody and harmony.

Lovely jazz album, smooth and light.

ja leuk hoor, niet me favo Miles maar alsnog mooi voor op de achtergron when you are vibing

Niet zo goed als Kind of Blue Maar wel prima

Good Jazz, not really my thing.

one of the few jazz artists i actually tolerate and can enjoy

decent jazz, short enough to not get boring

This is very enjoyable but not quite as gripping as the more dramatic Jazz stuff that I've heard from Davis (Sketches in Spain) or more trippy/psychedelic stuff that I've enjoyed in general (Journey in Satchidanada), though I'm no Jazz aficionado by any means. Growing on me though... it's very infectious and fun. Move in particular is fantastic.

Another album that was technically impressive but just did nothing for me.

Great jazz record, not much to say.

The best of all time.

Miles Davis is cool but this one ain’t it. Sure, it was 1958 I’m sure this was fucking great because what else was there. Big band is nothing but a big bunch of skilled musicians playing bland, boring music. More doesn’t mean better. This is boring. 2.5 stars

Great jazz album, reminded me of La La Land (actually the other way around)

This is an album that does exactly what it says on the tin. Effortlessly cool, without being arch. The recordings on this date from 1949 and 1950 but sound vibrant and fresh. A perfect place to start for anyone who thinks that jazz is not for them.

This is a killer. Definitely cool, insanely good. The truth is, anything Davis did deserves 5 stars.

I know he's talented and famous, but gogdamn, it's tough for me to make it through a jazz album. No need to relisten, I'm not going to enjoy.

2.5 Not really sure what to say about this one. It’s a jazz album, and it’s not a particularly exciting or interesting one at that. It’s also not even really a studio album as it is more of a collection of songs from early in his career, meaning it doesn’t feel structured in any kind of way, but then again, is any jazz album? Inoffensive to the ears, but not the kind of thing I’d willingly put on again, especially with how lacking in variety it feels. I appreciate him keeping this short, but in listening to this during a drive to the airport, I still found myself bored pretty quickly - it felt like my radio was stuck on NPR or something. I do think Miles is a talented dude, but unfortunately his music just doesn’t speak to me.

This was recorded over three sessions in 1949/50. Swing Jazz was on it's way out and Cool Jazz starts right here? This is the cool toe tapping kind of Jazz. They do it perfectly I assume. This is super easy to listen to, almost to the point of being background music. It's totally enjoyable. I think most any other music you listen from 1950 is immediately going to sound dated and of a completely different era. This stands the test off time and there's enough here that's been carried on over the years where it doesn't completely sound alien in 2024. This doesn't blow me away but it's 100 percent easy and pleasant to listen to. 3.5/5

Couldn't get through it.

Jazz is not always my jazz but I usually enjoy it. And this is no exception. Crisp and dynamic. I'm thinking 4 just cuz there's nothing wrong with it.

Gotta love that trumpet!

They don’t call this Birth of the Cool for nothing. What a fucking classic

4+

Cool Jazz. 4/5

An absolutely fine 50s jazz album, but pales in comparison to the mind melting things Miles would wind up moving on to

This was short and quite pleasant, like listening to the background music to a cartoon from the 50s. It didn't click with me at all and I could happily never listen to it again without feeling I had missed anything.

I suppose this must be Miles just before he went off the deep end into hard-bop, this is surprisingly conventional I think. The voicing of tha band is quite traditional and there are elements of swing and big band music, it sounds like the bridge between wartime jazz and the new era he was about to spearhead. I liked it, though it didn't blow me away, probably will return for further listens.

Sum of dat mufuggin honky Tonky jazz moosic..it was aight

good album

Solid jazz album, good background music.

A little too smooth to be my thing, but Cool, nonetheless.

This probably was the birth of the cool to be fair. 4.5/5.0: Excellent

4.5

I don't really 'do' jazz, but enjoyed this. So much I played it twice. Not much meaningful to say about it, but I loved the energy of this, and it feels 'important'.

The perfect music for a sunny spring afternoon. Light touches, short durations and a backing band worthy of Miles. The music leads to internal stories and scenes in your own mind. It's pretty cool when creativity leads to creativity. I've not been BOOZING btw.

I think jazz is cool but I’ve never really felt anything significant from it. I don’t hate this, I kind of like it. Moon dreams is really good. the dissonance and eeriness is what makes it shine. as a musician you have to be marveled by the songwriting abilities on this.

Never been big into jazz but this album was great and enjoyable

cool

Le cool est né

Pretty chill, Miles Davis is just so good. Favorite track is either “Moon Dreams”, “Jeru”, or “Rocker”. Very stereotypical jazz, easy to listen to.

I like some Miles Davis, but this was a bit like background music in a war-time movie.

eh, nothing really special besides the very famous single

Spectacular.

HE DEFINED COOL.

It’s Miles Davis! If there were 6 stars, I’d award it.

Accomplished and enjoyable.

Parp.

There was some Deception with this album, but it made me Move! The Moon Dreams were bright!

A smooth, beautifully crafted album. A far cry from Miles' more challenging stuff, but infinitely pleasing to the ears. Fave Songs: Moon Dreams, Budo, Move, Rocker, Jeru

Smooth

I might not be cool enough for this. I'm trying to trick my brain into liking jazz but something isn't clicking. I do appreciate how music from this era doesn't have that timeless quality that stuff from the 60s can have, rather it transports you to the 40s or 50s. And that's interesting. But it all runs together for me.

Good. I liked the style though I found it too slow and not weird enough.

giving this two stars because it made me feel like my atoms were out of place, but not as far out of place as i expected it too, and i found myself bopping along a couple times.

I really loved this! This was so easy to listen to, exciting, and refreshing. Plus it was great study music. I love vocals though, so that is why it is not getting 5 stars.

wasn't feeling this when i was listening, sorry mr. davis

Sorry Miles Davis I cannot stand this

Instrumental albums have to be very very bad before I have nothing to say about them Did not like the surprise vocals in the last song, was a good album otherwise

Faster and more active than my fave of his albums, shorter tracks, still super cool

Hoeveel zelfvertrouwen moet je hebben om een album Birth of the Cool te noemen? En hoe vet als je dan ook nog eens gelijk hebt? Los daarvan, ben ik eerlijk gezegd niet de allergrootste fan van Cool jazz als een genre. Het is wat rustiger en wat 'saaier' naar mijn mening dan andere vormen van jazz. Dat is bij dit album dus ook een beetje. Sowieso is het een compilatie, wat bijvoorbeeld Kind of Blue niet is en waardoor dat album ook veel beter in elkaar overvloeit in tegenstelling tot dit. Daarentegen zijn er echt nog heel veel nummers die top klinken, maar ik ben wel minder weggeblazen( ha ha snap je? ) dan bij vorige jazz albums. FAVO: Jeru, Boplicity, Israel, Rouge

A tight collection of bebop. The instrument pairing and memorable melodies shine through. It doesn’t speak to the emotional palette the way later Davis albums do, but it is a simple sharp record of songs that could easily be surmised as jazz standards.

Not stunned by anything. Great though.

Good background music but found it less engaging than other records like "Bitches Brew, In a Slient Way, or Kind of Blue."

Nice jazzy album with great trumpet, trombone and sax solos/improv.

Very soothing and great jazz!

Much like all jazz, this is background music

jag har svårt för den här storbandsjazzen. ett plus för att det är tidigt.

Wow was that album good

3.5/5

That Miles Davis is something. Perfection. 5/5.

Just not my kind of jazz

This feels like some dinner jazz I should find really boring, but you know what? It's actually really good. It still remains interesting and doesn't drag on or do the same thing all the way through constantly.

enjoyable , not something i’d frequent but i downloaded 3 and 9

It's brilliantly executed, has a warm production and is generally pretty fun, but kinda washed over me tbh. All very thematically similar.

It's jazz alright!

El sonido "cool jazz" tiene su origen en las tres sesiones recogidas en este álbum. Los arreglos de big band acompañan la trompeta inigualable de Miles Davis en una cadencia aparentemente sencilla, incluso en sus momentos más complicados. Piezas íntimas, relajantes y elegantes que definen este jazz de la costa oeste. Una escucha placentera y muy aconsejable.

ótimo álbum, pouca versatilidade mas a constância faz as melodias rápidas do trompete se destacarem bem. O timbre do trompete de Miles Davis é emocionante e escuro mas ainda sim consegue encaixar bem em músicas alegres como "move". Recomendaria apenas para um amante de jazz, esse álbum pode ser um pouco monótono e não é uma boa primeira experiencia para alguém que esta sendo introduzido ao mundo do jazz.

Not one's favorite Miles, as this is nowhere near Kind of Blue and even the four great quintet records, which are looser and more fun. Still this is awfully influential, not to mention tuneful, polished and highly sophisticated. More like classical music in its loveliness and (occasional) dryness.

I'm not cool enough for Miles Davis. 2/5

It's a good album. But when you consider what Miles Davis would ultimately achieve in jazz music, you could say with "Birth of the Cool" he hasn't come into his own yet. In short, it sounds like ordinary jazz, nothing special. Compare it to Kind of Blue (1959) and you'll see what I mean.

Very cool

Great trumpet, cool old school jazz.

I can genuinely appreciate the talent that the musicians on this album have. But…I let it okay out like background music as it didn’t do much for me, personally. If it’s your thing, fill your wellies.

So. Damn. cool. Dreamy, melodic, powerful. Jazz in the days of old Chicago, pencil skirts, and offers you can't refuse.

nice, but impossible not to compare to Kind of Blue which it falls short of

Really solid jazz album, I do love me some Miles Davis.

Landmark album

Jazz

Probably the least remarkable Miles Davis we have listened to on this list so far. 2/5

Absolute classic. Miles is more revered for his later work within modal and jazz fusion, but this is a good showcase of why he was already the best tooter in the early 50's.

Fella sure can play the trumpet but it's not for me to be honest

Good music but you have to be in the right mood

Beautiful music but no lyrics and I'm.that guy who likes lyrics

It earns it's name.

Tonality that no one musician would touch with a 10-foot pole, and Miles Davis and his friends make this one of the smoothest sounding albums ever??? Incredible. I honestly could have done without the last track. The singing is just not up to par with the rest of the instruments. Favorite song: Moon Dreams

i would agree this is cool.

Miles got even cooler from here. But this goes down like a fine bourbon, and just as quickly.

Genius level stuff.

I prefer my jazz with more skronk and weirdness, but I recognize that this is "good".

Miles Davis never disappoints

Good, but not as great as Kind of Blue was

This is a pretty interessting album, given that it serves as a connection between bebop and the following cool jazz. Some of it is pure bop, some of it is miles ahead of its time (ba-dum-tss).

Воу, круто.

Talented, relaxing.

I have previously been a Miles Davis hater on here but I liked this. These songs had melody and felt like songs. Maybe that rejection of musical conventions is what draws others to something like Bitches Brew, but that's exactly why it wasn't for me. This was.

Not quite Bitches or Blue, but still a fantastic Davis record

Really easy relaxing background music

Jazz sure is jazz

Classic Miles. Miles brings the cool.

Cool jazz.Correcto.

Tyylikästä töräyttelyjazzia, mitäs siihen vastaan panemaan.

Improvisointi tappaa varovaisen kiinnostuksen teemoja kohtaan. Jazz-artistit ovat väärässä metafysiikasta.

Lovely jazz. I don’t know enough to parse the differences between this and prior Davis releases, I just know that I like it.

Really cool, smooth jazz with excellent dynamics. To be listened to as a whole.

I could myself listening to this.. sitting at Disneyland waiting for my beignet order to be fulfilled. 2.5

Saw Miles Davis live during his Bitches Brew album tour In 1970 at the Filmore West In San Francisco opening for the Grateful Dead we were tripping and they took us to another planet musically and the Dead spent his whole set leaning on the back of the amps completely mesmerized While not Bitches Brew still it’s Miles Davis so a solid 4 for me

Fun fact: nothing was cool until this album released in 1957. Thanks, Miles Davis.

Like the bold album naming but probs didn't quite live up to the name. Pre kind of blue, post Charlie parker quartet and sounds like a step on the way...

A classic, beautiful flowing jazz collection. Provided good background music and nothing stood out specifically.

Miles davis what a legend. This album is class.

Respect voor het talent en een vette albumtitel, maar ik kan hier slecht inkomen. Wel lekkere achtergrondmuziek

Does what it says in the tin, it's cool as fuck.

Faszinierend, einflussreich. Sehr empfehlenswert!

Masterpiece

Prefer the late 60-70's Miles Era

Nice, happy jazz

Never was there a more appropriate album title.

It’s jazz. It’s very good jazz, but it’s not my thing. Rating reflects personal enjoyment, not quality (as always, rating reflects personal enjoyment, not quality) Listens: 1 Fave Track: ? Rating: 2

Kind of Blew

p34. 1957. 2 stars. Jazz, so the wrong audience. Seems well done of its type, though. Unlikely to replay this.

Absolutely wild improvisation, I think this is a great entry point for Jazz

Miles Davis is jazz. The king of jazz. Absolutely a incredible album.

Not for me 3/5

Nice for a piano bar of some sort

It's Miles Davis. Not really any surprises here. It's good.

Solid for sure, as you'd expect from him. It definitely feels like an earlier album than his true greats though. Still very enjoyable, but if I'm going to listen to Miles Davis it probably isn't the one I would immediately reach for.

Surely very good quality playing but after a bit off t gets boring. To be listened to in small doses

i just dont care about jazz

Mood music

I really went into this album underestimating the "Cool" but I'll be darned if this 70 year old album isn't indeed Cool. I didn't keep track of track names as it all just kept flowing pretty smoothly until the last track with the vocals. I'd maybe take that out of the playlist, but other than that I was pleasantly surprised by this. Favorite track "Move" 4/5

Birth of the Cool ushered in a new era: "cool jazz." This contrasted with the frenetic energy of bebop, the dominant style at the time. Davis' nonet (a nine-piece ensemble) employed a more relaxed, introspective approach. Shorter compositions (averaging around 3 minutes) focused on melody and mood rather than extended, virtuosic solos. Tracks like "Jeru" and "Moon Dreams" showcase this beautifully, with muted trumpet lines weaving through airy textures created by French horn and tuba. Gil Evans' masterful arrangements provided a foundation that was both sophisticated and accessible. However, the album wasn't simply a chilled-out affair. Tracks like "Move" retain a driving rhythmic pulse, and Davis' understated trumpet solos still pack a punch. The interplay between instruments is a highlight, with unexpected harmonies and counterpoint melodies keeping listeners engaged. While some might find the overall mood subdued compared to bebop, Birth of the Cool offered a captivating alternative. Production: A Flawed Experiment The album's production history is as fascinating as its music. Recorded in 1949 and 1950, the sessions were shelved by Capitol Records due to their unconventional sound. Released years later with some edits and overdubs, the final product doesn't always flow seamlessly. Some argue that the edits disrupt the original cohesion, while others see them as minor blemishes on a groundbreaking work. Regardless, the sonic quality itself is excellent, capturing the warmth and intimacy of the small ensemble sessions. Themes: Coolness and Beyond The "cool" aesthetic permeates the album, evident in the music's relaxed feel and Davis' own persona. However, Birth of the Cool isn't simply an exercise in coolness. Tracks like "Venus de Milo" hint at a darker undercurrent, with dissonant harmonies and a brooding atmosphere. This complexity reflects the social and cultural anxieties of the postwar era, making Birth of the Cool more than just a stylistic departure. Influence: A Legacy of Innovation Birth of the Cool's influence is undeniable. It paved the way for modal jazz, a style that emphasized scales and modes over complex chord changes. Artists like John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk were heavily influenced by Davis' pioneering work. Furthermore, the album's focus on melody and atmosphere resonated with musicians outside jazz, influencing artists in rock, pop, and even film scoring. Pros and Cons: A Balanced View Birth of the Cool isn't without flaws. The production issues and occasional pacing problems can be minor detractors. However, its strengths far outweigh these. The innovative music, groundbreaking style, and enduring influence solidify its place as a jazz masterpiece. The Final Notes Birth of the Cool stands as a testament to Miles Davis' restless spirit and artistic vision. While lacking traditional lyrics, it speaks volumes through its innovative music, thoughtful production, and exploration of themes beyond mere coolness. Its influence continues to be felt across genres, solidifying its position as a landmark album and a must-listen for any jazz enthusiast or music lover seeking a taste of groundbreaking innovation.

Pretty cool.

Jazz takes many forms, some of which I like some that I can appreciate and some that pass me by. This is somewhere between the last two.

Cool like an iced tea on a hot day.

Jazz

Extremely good album. Very easy listening but also very complex at the same time. loved it.

i'm not a huge jazz guy, i would say i am somewhat jazz inclined, but not widely interested. this is my preferred style of jazz - especially the more uptempo bebop style jazz. obviously the musicianship is phenomenal and i appreciate that nothing goes on for too long (a problem i have with a lot of the longer-form jazz). thumbs up from me!