Walkin'
Artist: Miles Davis
Community Score: 9.50

The undeniable strength and conviction present in Miles Davis' performance on Walkin', underscores the urgency and passion with which he would rightfully reclaim his status as a primary architect of bop. Davis is supported by his all-stars, consisting of his primary rhythm unit: Horace Silver (piano), Percy Heath (bass), and Kenny Clarke... Read More

58 Sessions Featuring Stella by Starlight
Artist: Miles Davis

This compilation somewhat erratically distills the contents of two very different releases featuring the 1958 Miles Davis Sextet. The first four tracks were originally issued as one side of a short-lived album entitled Jazz Track. On this disc, that same May 1958 studio session is augmented by three numbers from Jazz at the Plaza. The live... Read More

Jazz at the Plaza, Vol. 1
Artist: Miles Davis

Back in 1958, Jazz at the Plaza was never meant to be a record; it was a Columbia party at the Plaza, a place jazz had never been played before. Also on the bill were Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, and Jimmy Rushing. Despite the fine remastering job done by the Sony crew, Jazz at the Plaza remains more a curiosity piece than an essential... Read More

Miles & Coltrane
Artist: Miles Davis

Miles & Coltrane is a CD that will satisfy the novice or the most discerning jazz patron. A brilliant collection of digitally remastered tunes directly from the original analog tapes, this CD will provide fans of Miles Davis and John Coltrane with a distinct look at their artistic progress. By the time John Coltrane joined the Miles Davis... Read More

Beginnings
Artist: Wes Montgomery

At the time that guitarist Wes Montgomery recorded "Finger Pickin'" on Dec. 30, 1957, he was an unknown guitarist from Indianapolis who a decade earlier had toured a bit with Lionel Hampton. By the final session on this two-LP set, he was on the verge of stardom. The innovative guitarist (who extended the style of Charlie Christian about as far... Read More

Far Wes
Artist: Wes Montgomery

This historical CD contains some of guitarist Wes Montgomery's first recordings; in fact only three small-group songs predate these performances. The then-obscure guitarist is heard in two different quintets, both of which include his brothers Buddy (on piano) and Monk (playing electric bass). The earlier set has Harold Land's tenor as a lead... Read More

My Fair Lady Loves Jazz
Artist: Billy Taylor

Recorded at a time when My Fair Lady was a big Broadway hit (but a few years before it became a film), this CD reissue brings back one of the very best jazz interpretations of the classic score. The focus throughout is on the Billy Taylor trio (which included bassist Earl May and drummer Ed Thigpen), but Quincy Jones' arrangements for the seven... Read More

J.J. Johnson, Kai Winding, Bennie Green With Strings
Artist: J.J. Johnson

All of this album was also issued on a previous two-fer set in 1981. The material comes from three dates: 5/26/49, 8/23/49 and 10/5/51. The trombonists are represented this way: Johnson's on the earliest cuts, Winding the middle and Green the '51 sessions. ~ Bob Rusch, Cadence, All Music Guide Read More

The Complete Riverside Recordings
Artist: Wes Montgomery

Wes Montgomery recorded exclusively for the Riverside label during the four years covered by this massive 12-CD box set and, although his later albums for Verve and particularly the pop/jazz A&M dates sold many more copies, it is from his Riverside dates that his legacy was primarily formed. Virtually unknown at the time of his debut on... Read More