1959 · Album
Workin' with the Miles Davis Quintet
Recorded May 11 and October 26, 1956 · Prestige Records · Released: January 1960
Two Days in 1956, Four Albums Born
Miles and his quintet walked in and made four albums' worth of material in two sessions—this is what happened when they did.
In May and October 1956, the Miles Davis Quintet entered the studio for two sessions that would yield an unusual bounty: four separate albums released over time, this one among them. Workin' with the Miles Davis Quintet captures that particular moment—not a planned statement or a thematic collection, but the working material of a band in motion. The sessions were business-like: the label needed product, the musicians needed the paycheck, and the best way to get both was to record enough takes to fill multiple releases later. What's striking is that the urgency didn't show up as sloppiness. The playing is direct and purposeful, each track a clean take with no wasted motion.
This album sits squarely in the middle of those four records—neither the most celebrated nor the least. Cookin' with the Miles Davis Quintet tends to draw more attention from listeners starting out, but Workin' deserves the same curiosity. The material here swings hard without pretense; these are working sessions in the truest sense, where the focus lands on the quintet's ability to lock in and play. DownBeat's full five-star rating at the time confirms what's audible: this was recognized immediately as serious work by a serious band. The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings rated it highly as well, acknowledging the craft even if it didn't rank it at the absolute peak. If you've already heard Cookin' and want to know what else came out of those same days in the studio, Workin' answers the question directly.
Who's playing
Paul Chambersdouble bass
Red Garlandpiano
John Coltranetenor saxophone
Miles Davistrumpet
Philly Joe Jonesdrums
Where next?
More by Miles Davis
All 59 albums →
The musicians on this record
Giant Steps 1960
John Coltrane
plays tenor saxophone here
plays tenor saxophone here
Kenny Drew Trio 1957
Philly Joe Jones
plays drums (drum set) here
plays drums (drum set) here
Red in Blues-Ville 1959
Red Garland
plays piano here
plays piano here
