The Compositions of Al Cohn
| The Compositions of Al Cohn | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1953 | |||
| Recorded | February 19, 1953 | |||
| Studio | Beltone Studios New York City | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 19:16 | |||
| Label | Prestige PRLP 154 | |||
| Producer | Bob Weinstock | |||
| Miles Davis chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |   [1] |
The Compositions of Al Cohn is a 10" LP by jazz musician Miles Davis, recorded on February 19, 1953 and released later that year on Prestige, his third album as leader for the label, and fourth altogether, following 1952's Young Man with a Horn for Blue Note.[2][3][4][5]
Background[edit]
All the tunes were written by tenor saxophonist, composer and arranger Al Cohn. Ira Gitler's liner notes explain the desire to return to arranged music, along the lines of the Birth of the Cool sessions, following three albums focused more on soloing. "[I]t was felt that Miles needed a change of pace for his next recording date; compositions and arrangements which would suit him and result in a happy combination of arranged music and solo work ... Three of the pieces, "Willie The Wailer", "Floppy", and "For Adults Only" were written for this session. "Tasty Pudding" had been written before but Al arranged it specially for Miles and this date." [6]
In his autobiography, Davis suggests Bob Weinstock had pressured him to record a more disciplined album with more "respectable" musicians, following the debacle of the incomplete session with Charlie Parker attempted earlier that year (released in 1956 on Collectors' Items).[7]
After the 10" LP format was discontinued, the four tracks were all included on the 12" album Miles Davis and Horns (PRLP 7025).
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Tasty Pudding" | Al Cohn | 3:20 |
| 2. | "Floppy" | Al Cohn | 6:00 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3. | "Willie the Wailer" | Al Cohn | 4:26 |
| 4. | "For Adults Only" | Al Cohn | 5:33 |
| Total length: | 19:16 | ||
Personnel[edit]
- Miles Davis – trumpet
- Al Cohn – tenor saxophone
- Zoot Sims – tenor saxophone
- Sonny Truitt – trombone
- John Lewis – piano
- Kenny Clarke – drums
- Leonard Gaskin – double bass
References[edit]
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.
- ^ The Compositions Of Al Cohn, Discogs.com, accessed July 4, 2014
- ^ The Compositions Of Al Cohn, the Jazz Discography Project, accessed May 20, 2014
- ^ The Compositions Of Al Cohn, Miles Ahead: A Miles Davis Website, accessed May 20, 2014
- ^ February 19, 1953 Session Details, Miles Ahead: A Miles Davis Website, accessed May 21, 2014
- ^ The Compositions Of Al Cohn liner notes Miles Ahead: A Miles Davis Website, accessed May 20, 2014
- ^ "Miles: the Autobiography", Miles Davis with Quincy Troupe, 1989, pg.161
