alec miller’s review of the albumOriginal Jazz Sound: Birth of the Cool

Miles Davis played with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie before he put his own group together with other “side” players. This record is great. The horn lines are at times insane in speed and pizazz. On other tracks though they lead us through a calm exploration of jazz. Is this where cool was born? Maybe. From the albums I’ve listened to so far on the 1,001 albums I listen to before you die lost this is one that is much ‘cooler’ than most (looking at you In The Wee Small Hours by Frank Sinatra). This belongs on a playlist with Ellington at Newport and the Atomic Mr. Basie. Bottom Line: The title is intimidating, and sets a high bar. I don’t think any real fan of music would skip checking out where the cool was born…