Released: 12/05/23
Between 1955 and 1956, Miles Davis led his legendary “first” quintet—featuring John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones—in a series of Prestige Records sessions, impeccably engineered by Rudy Van Gelder. The resulting albums, including Workin’, capture the quintet’s evolution into one of modern jazz’s greatest ensembles. Workin’ features a balanced mix of ballads and blues, with standout tracks like Davis’s “Four” and “Half Nelson,” Coltrane’s “Trane’s Blues,” Brubeck’s “In Your Own Sweet Way,” and a trio rendition of Ahmad Jamal’s “Ahmad’s Blues.” Highlights include Coltrane’s poignant solo on Brubeck’s tune and Garland’s vibrant turn on Coltrane’s.