What makes Miles Davis Quintet by Miles Davis Quintet notable?

The Miles Davis Quintet album is notable for its critical acclaim and influence on jazz standards, particularly with tracks like 'Solar', which has become a staple in jazz repertoire. Its artistic depth helped pave the way for the modern jazz ensemble format and contributed to Davis's legacy as a pioneer of improvisational music. In 1954, Miles Davis was establishing himself as a leading figure in jazz, following his groundbreaking work on 'Birth of the Cool' in 1949. The release of this album marked a significant moment in his career, solidifying the innovative sound of his new quintet during a period when he was transitioning from cool jazz to hard bop.

How many songs are on Miles Davis Quintet?

Miles Davis Quintet has 3 tracks, running approximately 17 minutes.

Miles Davis Quintet

Miles Davis Quintet · 1954

17 min · 3 tracks · jazz

A seamless blend of intricate melodies and spontaneous improvisation, showcasing the quintet's lyrical prowess and rhythmic complexity.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Solar — This track stands out for its complex harmonic structure and expressive improvisation, highlighting the quintet's ability to balance melody with intricate rhythms.
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You Don’t Know What Love Is — Its hauntingly beautiful arrangement allows for deep emotional expression, showcasing the band's synergy and Davis’s lyrical trumpet playing.
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I’ll Remember April — This track features extended solos that exemplify the group’s tight interplay and spontaneity while displaying their technical virtuosity.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

70 /100

Alpine

Higher than 94% of albums we've rated

The album showcases strong compositions and skilled improvisation, solidifying its place in jazz history.

What we noticed

Each piece begins with a clear melodic statement before devolving into intricate solos, emphasizing the quintet's collective and individual skills.
The tempo varies across the tracks, with 'Solar' starting slow and contemplative, while 'I’ll Remember April' picks up the pace significantly.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Solar 4:45
2 You Don’t Know What Love Is 4:24
3 I’ll Remember April 7:55

What to play next

Listen next

Miles

1956

Full Miles Davis Quintet discography Artists like Miles Davis Quintet

jazz

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata