Miles Davis had already turned heads at major New York venues like Birdland and Basin Street when he stepped back into Rudy Van Gelder’s living-room studio in Hackensack, New Jersey three times in 1955—June 7, August 5, and November 16. What emerged was far more than another entry in the Prestige catalog; that year marked a pivotal turning point for Davis, as he began to find his voice as a trumpet player and confidence as a bandleader, with his live performances hinting at the mythical figure he would soon become.
If last year’s Miles ’54 box set was your entry point, think of Miles ’55 as the moment the fuse reaches the powder... These foundational recordings not only set the stage for Davis’ future classics but also showcased the burgeoning genius of his soon-to-be legendary bandmates.
“There was a particular sound that had defined the ’50s… It was an approach that balanced a modern, post-bop feel with echoes of a simpler time. And it belonged to one trumpet player in particular.”—Ashley Kahn, liner notes
Arriving August 22, Miles ’55: The Prestige Recordings gathers sixteen freshly remastered tracks from those three pivotal sessions, presented in deluxe 3-LP, 2-CD, and hi-res digital editions. Featuring selections from Miles: The New Miles Davis Quintet, Miles Davis and Milt Jackson Quintet/Sextet, and The Musings of Miles, and more.
WHAT’S INSIDE MILES ’55: THE PRESTIGE RECORDINGS
- 3-LP set – 180-gram vinyl, lacquers cut by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio
- 2-CD edition – Digipack with expanded booklet
- Digital release – Standard and hi-res options
- Liner notes – Brand-new essays by GRAMMY® winner Ashley Kahn
- Session notes – Insightful session notes by GRAMMY®-winner Dan Morgenstern
- Audio – Fully remastered from the original analog tapes by GRAMMY®-winner Paul Blakemore
“These sides represented the germination of The Quintet—balladry so muted it would make the group and its leader wildly popular.” —Dan Morgenstern, session notes
THE BIRTH OF THE "FIRST GREAT QUINTET"
Perhaps Davis’ most defining moment of 1955 was the formation of a talent-packed yet (then) virtually unknown ensemble of musicians, now known as the “First Great Quintet.” Featuring Sonny Rollins on tenor saxophone (soon to be replaced by another up-and-comer, John Coltrane), Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums, the group made their debut at Birdland in April. In another milestone, three months later, Davis delivered a momentous performance at the second Newport Jazz Festival. Jazz critic Joe Goldberg later called their 1955 ascent “the real beginning of the Miles Davis legend.” Hear that legend ignite on “Stablemates,” “S’posin’,” “How Am I to Know?” and the ballad “There Is No Greater Love.”
As Davis skyrocketed to international fame, the quintet became the dominant small jazz group of the late ’50s and a defining voice in the hard-bop scene.
LISTENING NOTES: WHY THESE SESSIONS STILL HIT HOME
- Lightning-in-a-bottle interplay – Coltrane’s searching tenor brushes up against Miles’ newly honed Harmon-mute whisper—raw, curious, electric.
- A rhythm team on the verge – Red Garland’s velvet chords, Paul Chambers’ melodic walks and Philly Joe Jones’ crisp snare turn every bar into forward motion.
- Van Gelder’s living-room glow – Tracked on a carpeted floor; the remaster lets you feel the room breathe beneath the bass.
- Songs that set the tone – From the after-hours hush of “There Is No Greater Love” to Jackie McLean’s bluesy “Dr. Jackle,” each take captures a band defining its voice in real time.
FIRST LISTEN: “THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE”
The collection’s lone quartet track finds Miles’ muted horn gliding over Paul Chambers’ walking bass and Red Garland’s piano, anchored by Philly Joe Jones’s drums. Stream or download on your favorite platform to hear just how lush a 1955 analog tape can sound in 2025.
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KEEP THE STORY SPINNING
Follow @CraftRecordings and @OriginalJazzClassics for deep dives and track-by-track spotlights leading up to release day on August 22.
