In 1955, Davis formed the first incarnation of the Miles Davis Quintet. This band featured
John Coltrane (tenor saxophone),
Red Garland (piano),
Paul Chambers (double bass) and
Philly Joe Jones (drums). This is where Miles moved from being important to being great. Miles caught some criticism at the time for hiring such a group of young unknowns, (Chambers was a teenager, Coltrane was considered out-of-tune and an amateur), but his foresight proved validated with a series of great album releases, firstly 'The New Miles Davis Quintet', then the quadrilogy of Relaxin', Cookin', Steamin' & Workin' which were were the product of two mammoth days of recording in late October 1956 & finally 'Round About Midnight which was actually recorded before the quadrilogy!
All these albums were recorded pretty much 'as it comes' without second takes or rehearsals. The quintet proved that they were just at home on tender ballads as they were on up-tempo numbers, playing with a passion & intensity that set the benchmark for not only their contemporaries, but all that had to follow them.
In 1957 Davis aslo traveled to France to compose his first film score, the soundtrack to Louis Malle's 'Ascenseur pour l'?chafaud'. He recorded the entire score with the aid of French session musicians
Barney Wilen, Pierre Michelot and Ren? Urtreger, along with American drummer
Kenny Clarke.
In 1958 the quintet expanded to a sextet with the addition of
Julian 'Cannonball' Adderley on Alto Saxophone.
Recordings with Gil Evans In the late 1950s & early 1960s, Davis also recorded a series of albums with
Gil Evans, often playing flugelhorn as well as trumpet.
The first, Miles Ahead (1957), showcased his playing with a jazz big band and a horn section beautifully arranged by Evans. This was followed by Porgy and Bess (1958) & the classic Sketches Of Spain in 1960 which was an idea that came to both of them when recording The Maids Of Cadiz on Miles Ahead. Sketches Of Spain featured tunes by contemporary Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo and also Manuel de Falla, as well as Gil Evans originals with a Spanish theme. Miles Davis at Carnegie Hall (1961) includes Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez, along with other songs recorded at a concert with the orchestra under Evans' direction.
Gil Evans was about as unlikely a companion for Miles Davis as one can imagine, until one takes into consideration Gil's incomparable ability to arrange music and specifically, music for Miles Davis. Gil & Miles initially collaborated in the successful experiments that produced 'The Birth of the Cool' in 1949-50, but this was the period that produced the bulk of their collaborative efforts. Their mutual respect & friendship blossomed & Gil remained Miles' most trusted musical advisor right up to the end of Miles' career. All this and we're still only up to 1960 ! To be continued...
Basquiat strings with special guests live from the Roundhaouse until 4th November Basquiat Strings are a classically-trained quintet led by cellist Ben Davis, one of Europe's top jazz string players. Nominated for the Mercury Prize this year, they performed at the BBC Electric Proms with recognised saxophonist from New York, Ellery Eskelin as well as leading improvising UK bassist Simon H Fell. 
Legends: Louis Prima: Friday 2nd November 21:00Profile of American entertainer, singer, actor, songwriter and trumpeter Louis Prima, nicknamed King of the Swingers after he voiced the character King Louis in The Jungle Book.
