Birth of the Cool
Studio album by Miles Davis
Released	February 1957
Recorded	January 21 & April 22, 1949, & March 9, 1950
Genre	Cool Jazz, Hard bop
Length	35:29
Label	Capitol
Producer(s)	Walter Rivers & Pete Rugolo
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link
Miles Davis chronology
Bopping the Blues (1946)	Birth of the Cool (1950)	Cool Boppin' (1951)

Birth of the Cool is an album which collects the twelve sides recorded by the Miles Davis nonet (featuring Gerry Mulligan, Lee Konitz and others) for Capitol Records in 1949 and 1950. Gil Evans contributed some charts to the sessions, acting as an advisor to a group of musicians who had met in his small New York apartment above a Chinese laundry. Evans had gained a reputation in the jazz world for his orchestration of bebop tunes for the Claude Thornhill orchestra, including Davis's "Donna Lee". Davis was seeking an alternative to the small groups typical of contemporary jazz (he was a member of Charlie Parker's quintet at the time), and in 1947 started to organise the loose circle of musicians into a working group. Rehearsals and experiments took place over the next year. Image File history File links Birth_of_the_Cool. ... A Studio Album is an album of regular studio recordings. ... Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991) was one of the most distinguished jazz musicians of the latter half of the 20th century. ... January 21 is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... April 22 is the 112th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (113th in leap years). ... Year 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... A music genre is a category (or genre) of pieces of music that share a certain style or basic musical language (van der Merwe 1989, p. ... CD reissue of Daviss 1957 LP Birth of the Cool, collecting much of his 1949 to 1950 work. ... Hard bop is an extension of bebop (bop) music which incorporates influences from rhythm and blues, gospel music, and blues, especially in the saxophone and piano playing. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Capitol Records is a major United States-based record label, owned by EMI. // The Capitol Records company was founded by the songwriter Johnny Mercer in 1942, with the financial help of movie producer Buddy DeSylva and the business acumen of Glenn Wallichs, (1910-1971) (owner of Music City, at the... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Pete Rugolo (born December 25, 1915) is an Italian-born composer and arranger. ... The All Music Guide (AMG) is a metadata database about music, owned by All Media Guide. ... Image File history File links 5_stars. ... Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991) was one of the most distinguished jazz musicians of the latter half of the 20th century. ... Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991) was one of the most distinguished jazz musicians of the latter half of the 20th century. ... In music, a nonet is a composition which requires nine musicians for a performance, or a musical group that consists of nine people. ... Gerald Joseph Gerry Mulligan (April 6, 1927 – January 20, 1996) was an American jazz musician, composer and arranger best known for his baritone saxophone playing. ... Lee Konitz (born 1927 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American jazz composer and saxophone player. ... Capitol Records is a major United States-based record label, owned by EMI. // The Capitol Records company was founded by the songwriter Johnny Mercer in 1942, with the financial help of movie producer Buddy DeSylva and the business acumen of Glenn Wallichs, (1910-1971) (owner of Music City, at the... Gil Evans  (*13 May 1912 at Toronto, Canada  â€  20 March 1988 at Cuernavaca, Mexico); jazz musician and important innovator of big band jazz in the United States as an arranger, composer, bandleader, and pianist; cool jazz, modal jazz, free jazz, jazz rock. ... Nickname: Big Apple, Gotham, NYC Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs The Bronx Brooklyn Manhattan Queens Staten Island Settled 1613  - Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area    - City 1,214. ... An apartment estate in Singapore; such blocks make up the majority of public housing in Singapore. ... Man and woman washing linen in a brook, from William Henry Pynes Microcosm, 1806. ... Bebop or bop is a form of jazz characterized by fast tempos and improvisation based on harmonic structure rather than melody. ... Claude Thornhill (August 10, 1909 - July 1, 1965) was an American pianist, arranger, and bandleader. ... Charlie Parker Charles Bird Parker, Jr. ...

The nonet performed live only briefly - firstly for a two week engagement in late August and early September 1948 at the Royal Roost Club in New York. Billed as the "Miles Davis Band", the group at this time consisted of Davis (trumpet), Mike Zwerin (trombone), Bill Barber (tuba), Junior Collins (French horn), Gerry Mulligan (baritone saxophone), Lee Konitz (alto saxophone), John Lewis (piano), Al McKibbon (bass), and Max Roach (drums). Former Dizzy Gillespie vocalist Kenny Hagood was featured on a few songs. Unusually the arrangers (Mulligan, Evans and Lewis) were given credit. They returned to the Royal Roost later in September, and recordings from 4 September and 18 September 1948, were included on the 1998 Complete Birth of the Cool CD, alongside the later studio sides. There was a further short residency the following year at the Clique Club, but the nonet was not a financial success, and disbanded. The trumpet is the highest brass instrument in register, above the horn, trombone, euphonium and tuba. ... The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. ... The tuba is the largest of the low-brass instruments and is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the ophicleide. ... The horn is a brass instrument consisting of tubing wrapped into a coiled form. ... Gerald Joseph Gerry Mulligan (April 6, 1927 – January 20, 1996) was an American jazz musician, composer and arranger best known for his baritone saxophone playing. ... Baritone saxophone The baritone saxophone is one of the larger and lower pitched members of the saxophone family. ... Lee Konitz (born 1927 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American jazz composer and saxophone player. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... John Aaron Lewis (3 May 1920 – 29 March 2001) was an American jazz pianist and composer best known as the musical director of the Modern Jazz Quartet. ... A grand piano, with the lid up. ... Al McKibbon (January 1, 1919 - July 29, 2005) was an American jazz bassist, known for his work in bop, hard bop, and Latin jazz. ... Side and front views of a modern double bass with a French bow. ... Jazz in 3/4 time cover released in 1957 on EmArcy Maxwell Lemuel Roach (born January 10 (according to the official records, though his family claims January 8), 1924)to parents Alphonse and Cressie Roach. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... John Birks Dizzy Gillespie (October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was born in Cheraw, South Carolina. ... September 4 is the 247th day of the year (248th in leap years). ... September 18 is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years). ... Year 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ...

In 1949 Davis had a contract with Capitol to record twelve sides for 78 r.p.m. singles, and he reformed the nonet to record three sessions in January and April 1949 and March 1950. Davis, Konitz, Mulligan and Barber were the only musicians who played on all three sessions, though the instrumental lineup was constant (excepting the omission of piano on a few songs). Originally released as singles, in 1953 eight of the tracks were compiled on a 10" vinyl album in Capitol's "Classics in Jazz" series, and in 1957 a 12" LP named Birth of the Cool added the remaining three unreleased instrumental pieces ("Move", "Budo" and "Boplicity"). The final track, "Darn That Dream" (the only song with vocals by Hagood), was included with the other eleven on a 1971 LP, and on subsequent releases. The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour as a 33 â…“ LP vinyl record A gramophone record (also phonograph record, or simply record) is an analogue sound recording medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed modulated spiral groove starting near the periphery and ending near the center of the disc. ... A gramophone record, (also phonograph record - often simply record) is an analog sound recording medium: a flat disc rotating at a constant angular velocity, with inscribed spiral grooves in which a stylus or needle rides. ...

The music is considered seminal because it launched a reaction to the prominent bebop form in modern jazz. Though the break can be exaggerated (Charlie Parker participated in the discussions Evans led, most of the musicians were drawn from the bebop scene and many continued to play in that style for years afterwards), it inspired a whole school of jazz musicians, particularly in California, usually referred to as the "cool school". Bebop or bop is a form of jazz characterized by fast tempos and improvisation based on harmonic structure rather than melody. ... Jazz is a musical art form that originated in New Orleans at around the start of the 20th century. ... Charlie Parker Charles Bird Parker, Jr. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... CD reissue of Daviss 1957 LP Birth of the Cool, collecting much of his 1949 to 1950 work. ...

Track listing

1. "Move" (Denzil Best, arranged by John Lewis) (2:32)
2. "Jeru" (Gerry Mulligan) (3:10)
3. "Moon Dreams" (Chummy MacGregor, Johnny Mercer, arranged by Gil Evans) (3:17)
4. "Venus de Milo" (Mulligan) (3:10)
5. "Budo" (Miles Davis, Bud Powell, arranged by Lewis) (2:32)
6. "Deception" (Davis, arranged by Mulligan) (2:45)
7. "Godchild" (George Wallington, arranged by Mulligan) (3:07)
8. "Boplicity" (Cleo Henry, i.e. Davis and Gil Evans, arranged by Evans) (2:59)
9. "Rocker" (Mulligan) (3:03)
10. "Israel" (Johnny Carisi) (2:15)
11. "Rouge" (John Lewis) (3:13)
12. "Darn That Dream" (Eddie DeLange, James Van Heusen, arranged by Mulligan) (3:26)

Arrangements were by the composer unless otherwise noted. Gerald Joseph Gerry Mulligan (April 6, 1927 – January 20, 1996) was an American jazz musician, composer and arranger best known for his baritone saxophone playing. ... Chummy MacGregor was Glenn Miller’s pianist from 1937-1942. ... Johnny Mercer John Herndon Johnny Mercer (November 18, 1909 – June 25, 1976) is regarded as one of Americas greatest songwriters. ... Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991) was one of the most distinguished jazz musicians of the latter half of the 20th century. ... The Amazing Bud Powell - early LP cover Earl Rudolph Bud Powell (September 27, 1924 – July 31, 1966 in New York City) was one of the most influential pianists in the history of jazz. ... George Wallington (1924–1993) was a highly regarded American bop pianist and composer. ... Cleo Henry was a pen name used by Miles Davis. ... Gil Evans  (*13 May 1912 at Toronto, Canada  â€  20 March 1988 at Cuernavaca, Mexico); jazz musician and important innovator of big band jazz in the United States as an arranger, composer, bandleader, and pianist; cool jazz, modal jazz, free jazz, jazz rock. ... John Aaron Lewis (3 May 1920 – 29 March 2001) was an American jazz pianist and composer best known as the musical director of the Modern Jazz Quartet. ... Eddie DeLange (15 January 1904 - 15 July 1949)was a United States bandleader and lyricist. ... James Van Heusen (January 26, 1913 - February 7, 1990), often credited as Jimmy Van Heusen, was an American composer. ...

Recording dates

• 1, 2, 5, 7 — 21 January 1949
• 4, 8, 10, 11 — 22 April 1949
• 3, 6, 9, 12 — 9 March 1950

Recordings exist of radio shows broadcast from the Royal Roost in 1948: "Birth of the Cool Theme" (Gil Evans), "Move", "Why Do I Love You?" (DeSylva, Gershwin and Gershwin, vocals by Hagood), "Godchild", "S'il Vous Plait" (John Lewis), "Moon Dreams" and "Budo", recorded on 4 September; and "Darn That Dream" (vocals by Hagood), "Move", "Moon Dreams" and "Budo" recorded on 18 September. January 21 is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... April 22 is the 112th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (113th in leap years). ... Year 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... George Gershwin (September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) was an American composer who wrote most of his vocal and theatrical works in collaboration with his elder brother lyricist Ira Gershwin. ... Ira Gershwin (6 December 1896 – 17 August 1983) was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century. ... September 4 is the 247th day of the year (248th in leap years). ... September 18 is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years). ...

Personnel

• Miles Davis — trumpet (all)
• Kai Winding — trombone (January 1949)
• J.J. Johnson — trombone (April 1949, March 1950)
• Junior Collins — French horn (January 1949)
• Sandy Siegelstein — French horn (April 1949)
• Gunther Schuller — French horn (March 1950)
• Bill Barber — tuba (all)
• Lee Konitz — alto saxophone (all)
• Gerry Mulligan — baritone saxophone (all)
• Al Haig — piano (January 1949)
• John Lewis — piano (April 1949, March 1950)
• Joe Shulman — bass (January 1949)
• Nelson Boyd — bass (April 1949)
• Al McKibbon — bass (March 1950)
• Max Roach — drums (January 1949, March 1950)
• Kenny Clarke — drums (April 1949)
• Kenny Hagood — vocal ("Darn That Dream" only)