Davis, Miles: Volume 2 (Vinyl LP)

The legendary trumpeter Miles Davis was still near the beginning of his storied career when he cut the three sessions that comprise his Blue Note recordings in 1952, 1953, and 1954. In the late 1940s, Miles had been a member of Charlie Parker’s quintet and Dizzy Gillespie’s big band, as well as cutting select sides as a leader including the influential Birth of the Cool sessions for Capitol Records.

Miles’ star was still rising at the time he hooked up with Alfred Lionand Blue Note, but he was clearly on his path towards becoming one of the greatest bandleaders in jazz. Initially released across three 10” LPs - Young Man With A Horn, Vol. 2, and  Vol. 3 - the music captured on these Blue Note sides contains all the hallmarks of his early style from blazing bebop to beautiful ballads. When Blue Note transitioned to the 12” LP in 1955, Lion compiled Miles’ recordings onto two volumes as the inaugural releases of the 1500 series.

Volume 2 (Blue Note 1502) presents tracks from all three sessions which featured Miles with the likes of trombonist J.J. Johnson, saxophonists Jackie McLean and Jimmy Heath, pianists Gi Coggins and Horace Silver, bassists Oscar Pettiford and Percy Heath, and drummers Kenny Clarke and Art Blakey.

This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.

1. Take Off
   
2. Weirdo
   
3. Wouldn’t You
   
4. I Waited For You
   
5. Ray’s Idea
   
6. Donna
   
7. Well You Needn’t
   
8. The Leap
   
9. Lazy Susan
   
10. Tempus Fugit
    
11. It Never Entered My Mind