Cookin' at the Plugged Nickel
Artist: Miles Davis

The third LP volume of music taken from the Miles Davis Quintet's stay at the Plugged Nickel in Chicago finds the young group (comprised of Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Tony Williams) stretching out on "If I Were a Bell," "Stella by Starlight," "Walkin'" and "Miles," whipping through the melodies quickly and then really tearing... Read More

At Plugged Nickel, Chicago
Artist: Miles Davis

The first of two LPs originally released in Japan captures the second classic Quintet (which included Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Tony Williams) early on when, although their studio albums stuck to originals, they were still playing standards in clubs. This set, which includes lengthy versions of "Walkin'," "On Green Dolphin... Read More

At Plugged Nickel, Chicago, Vol. 2
Artist: Miles Davis

Starting with the E.S.P. album in 1965, Miles Davis never again recorded standards in the studio but, as shown on the two LP volumes in this series taken from performances at Chicago's Plugged Nickel in late 1965, his young quintet was still investigating older material in clubs. This LP finds Davis, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and... Read More

Live in Paris
Artist: John Coltrane

Charly's live John Coltrane recordings from '61, '63, and '65 reveal just how much the tenor and soprano saxophonist's playing changed in the first half of the decade: a sonic shift from aggressive tonality to unfettered exploration. While the 1965 disc, Live In Paris, does find Coltrane covering familiar song territory with "Naima,"... Read More

The John Coltrane Quartet Plays
Artist: John Coltrane Quartet

1965 was one of the turning points in the career of John Coltrane. The great saxophonist, whose playing was always very explorative and searching, crossed the line into atonality during that year, playing very free improvisations (after stating quick throwaway themes) that were full of passion and fury. This particular studio album has two... Read More

E.S.P.
Artist: Miles Davis
Community Score: 8.00

ESP marks the beginning of a revitalization for Miles Davis, as his second classic quintet -- saxophonist Wayne Shorter, pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Tony Williams -- gels, establishing what would become their signature adventurous hard bop. Miles had been moving toward this direction in the two years preceding the... Read More

Transition
Artist: John Coltrane

The title of this album fits perfectly for John Coltrane was certainly at an important transitional point in his career at the time. Although he was still utilizing the same quartet that he had had for over three years (pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Jimmy Garrison, and drummer Elvin Jones) and his music had always been explorative, now he was... Read More

Sun Ship
Artist: John Coltrane

Other than First Meditations, which was not released at the time, Sun Ship (reissued on CD by Impulse) was the final studio album by John Coltrane's classic quartet (with pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Jimmy Garrison, and drummer Elvin Jones) before Pharoah Sanders joined the band on second tenor. At this point in time, Coltrane was using very... Read More

First Meditations
Artist: John Coltrane

Not released initially until 1977, the music on this 1992 CD was the last recording made by the classic John Coltrane Quartet; other slightly later records found the group augmented by additional musicians. Four of the five movements on this release (which are augmented by a lengthier second version of "Joy") would become part of the... Read More

Miles Smiles
Artist: Miles Davis
Community Score: 8.80

With their second album, Miles Smiles, the second Miles Davis Quintet really began to hit their stride, delving deeper into the more adventurous, exploratory side of their signature sound. This is clear as soon as "Orbits" comes crashing out the gate, but it's not just the fast, manic material that has an edge -- slower, quieter numbers are... Read More

Stellar Regions
Artist: John Coltrane
Community Score: 6.88

This is a major set, "new" music from John Coltrane that was recorded February 15, 1967, (five months before his death) but not released for the first time until 1995. One of several "lost" sessions that were stored by Alice Coltrane for decades, only one selection ("Offering" which was on Expression) among the eight numbers and three alternates... Read More