Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet

I grabbed this SACD hybird because the Steamin-Workin-Relaxin-Cookin quartet series is some of my favorite jazz and favorite music ever. So, before I move onto the sound quality issue that will be important to the sacd crowd, let me reassure all others that this music cannot be recommended more highly. It is a wonderful combination of traditional jazz with familiar melodies and a soulful, intelligent bop playing style. Cookin' Workin' and Steamin' are every bit as good - it seems the only basis to choose between the 4 is particular favorite songs on one or the other. As for the sonics, I was curious to compare the SACD version to my out-of-print DCC Prestige Gold Disc version (cat no. GZS-1052). After I ordered, I did some research on various audiophile/jazz collector forums and learned that my Steve Hoffman-mixed DCC versions of the series (I am apparently in an enviable position to own all four in that format) are considered superior to all other CD releases before and after. Now, with the disclaimer that I by no means have done a critical listening A-B comparison of the two discs, my initial reaction was that this sacd version is a worthy alternative since the DCC's are expensive collectors items at this point. I certainly did not hear the usual improvement in detail, depth etc that one typically hears in sacd reissues over conventional CD's, but I did not hear an inferior mix as one might expect from the evaluations of aficionados stating that the Hoffman mix is superior. I am not disagreeing in the sense that the DCC's sound better than virtually any non-sacd CD issues from the late 50's early 60's jazz, and Hoffman's mixes are outstanding, but my point is simply that one is better served to buy these hybrid versions than to wait around for used DCC's to magically appear at a reasonable price in good condition.

I bought this CD because it is part of a collection of CDs that Prestige released back in 2006. I have a few others in that collection to, and they sound amazing! These are reissued, remastered landmark Jazz recordings from the giants of 1950’s and 1960’s Jazz. What’s important to note is that each CD in this collection (this one included) is remastered from the original analog tapes by Rudy Van Gelder to a 24bit resolution CD. Most CDs are only 16 bit resolution! That means this CD is as close as you or I are going to come to having an original pressing of this album or a vinyl version remastered from the original analog tapes without hunting for a collector with one to sell and spending a lot of coins! Short version-if you are a Jazz fan at all, why are you still reading this?? Buy it!

Part of the famous single Prestige recording session which ultimately resulted in 4 separate lp releases "Cookin' , Relaxin' , Workin' and Steamin', featuring Miles, Trane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones. Miles' first great quintet! A must for any worthwhile collection of great American Music. There's an earlier Prestige release entiled "Walkin'" not the quintet... a group of all stars including Lucky Thompson on tenor....also worth a listen...

I remember when my musical interest was first drawn to jazz. I spent a summer working a lonely late shift on the Wisconsin-Illinois border, and the only tolerable radio station I could pick up was WBEZ out of Chicago. Legendary jazz DJ Larry Smith became my nightly guru, and I was converted. But when the time came to start building a Jazz collection, I was clueless where to start. Like an endless parade of other newbies (I'm sure) I followed the ubiquitous advice and purchased "Kind of Blue"--a fortuitous beginning indeed! But I was on my own for the second choice. I will come clean and admit that I picked "Relaxin" solely because the cover art struck me as the hippest example of 50's cool I ever saw. Hmmm...how often do you get this lucky twice in a row? This quintet OWNED jazz from '55 to '58. Their pinnacle achievement was the four albums they knocked off for Rudy Van Gelder in two marathon "live in the studio" recording sessions in '56. All four titles are essential. Of the four, Relaxin' is arguably the best. Jazz doesn't get any better than this. If you don't own this CD, you're not a true jazz fan, so be sure to rectify that situation immediately! Then follow up by purchasing "Something Else" (issued under Cannonball Adderley's name, but in reality a Miles Davis session). Then buy everything from Miles' second great quintet from the 60's...his groundbreaking projects with Gil Evans...where do you stop?

From Gerard Stroh*** The Album Relaxin with Miles Davis is Super Awesome and I Love It!!! The Price Was Awesome Too!!! It Sounds Good on My Crazy PA Stereo System!!! I am Building Up My Miles Davis Collection**** Thankyou and Great!!!!

As others have no doubt pointed out, this album was one of four (Cookin, Steamin, Relaxin, Workin') knocked out in short order by the Miles Davis Quintet back in 1956, in order to release Davis from a recording contract. But ya know... thank god for that. Because it gives us a peek inside the set list they had perfected at that time. I love Kind of Blue, but am lukewarm on all other Miles recordings, regardless of the esteem with which they are held. I suppose I just don't "get" the meaning or value of Bitches Brew or Sketches of Spain. But then a friend gave me an old, beatup vinyl of Cookin' With the Miles Davis Quintet... which I was mesmerized by. And then I went and bought Relaxin'. Cookin' is a bit better, but they are both cut from the same cloth. Both great. Thank god. I was thinking that (in terms of simpler musical appeal) that Miles was a one-album-wonder. I would recommend all four albums for sure.

Classic Miles Davis. Good Jazz.

Miles Davis at his best! The CD I received was different from the picture. It did play OK though.

Bien que resté en stéréo pour cette version SACD, Miles reste .... Miles. Très content de cet achat car enfin trouvé d'occasion (état impécable) à un tarif "terrestre" ! Certains vendeurs spéculent sur la rareté de certains albums ... mais il faut être patient. Reste que les maigres 36 minutes de cet enregistrement passent trop vite.(1 étoile en moins)

This was a difficult one to get. I'd ordered from a couple of different sources but turns out they were out of stock. Found it online here and was very happy with the pressing and SQ.

Semplicemente perfetto. Contenuto musicale straconosciuto ma è bello di vedere il vinile in colore yellow. Consiglio acquisto anche a neofiti

I believe this is an OJC mono issue from years before (a new old stock?). This copy sounds amazing to me (I am using an Ortofon Cadenza mono cart) and I am happy to keep. The small batch Craft recordings is too dear, too out of reach although I am curious to do a comparison if I have a chance.

O álbum é tão bom quanto se poderia imaginar: com um line up incrível, incluindo Miles e Coltrane, os temas são executados à perfeição técnica e do bom gosto na interpretação. Trata-se de um álbum registrado em estúdio porém "ao vivo", isto é, há uma espécie de vitalidade na interpretação que o torna uma experiência irreproduzível. Ademais, o obra da capa e o textos no verso capa são obras cada qual com sua própria qualidade - eu particularmente gosto muito da obra da capa. Em suma - beira a perfeição..