Miles Davis Quintet - Great Prestige Recordings

One of Analogue Productions' most successful and collectible projects has been the Miles Davis Quintet/The Great Prestige Recordings deluxe box set on 33 1/3 LP. Now, that beautiful five-album set is being reintroduced. 

Featuring a 12" x 12" 12-page gorgeous booklet, packaged with the LPs (each housed in a Stoughton Printing tip-on jacket) in a deluxe, heavy-duty box, this set is the end-all of Miles' work for the legendary Prestige label from 1951 through 1956. Stereophile awarded the first incarnation of this set Recording of the Month in their March 1997 issue, giving it five stars for both music and sonics. 

Miles Davis's final Prestige sessions came from a desire to move to Columbia in 1956 while still owing Prestige several albums. Using producer Bob Weinstock's loose recording approach, Miles and his first great quintet knocked out the obligation in two marathon sessions (May 11 and October 26, 1956) at Rudy Van Gelder's studio, playing their regular live repertoire with little rehearsal.

Prestige later released the music as Cookin', Relaxin', Workin', and Steamin'. Intended as quick contract fillers, the recordings became landmark hard-bop albums and some of the most natural, swinging jazz ever captured.

The Miles Davis Quintet featured what is likely Miles' best-ever group, featuring Davis, John Coltrane, Philly Joe Jones, Paul Chambers and Red Garland. All of those albums are included in this limited edition box set. The albums are pressed on 180-gram vinyl and mastered from the original analog tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio. They are packaged in a deluxe box with original album covers plus the 12-page booklet by Bob Blumenthal.

These were not rehearsed studio constructions but living, breathing performances — spontaneous, swinging, and electrifying in their interplay. From the simmering cool of "My Funny Valentine" to the hard-driving pulse of "Airegin," these sessions distilled everything that made Miles and his sidemen legends.

This box set is essential listening — meticulously mastered, beautifully presented, and historically vital. Own the sound that started it all — Miles, Coltrane, and company at their most inspired.