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Workin' with the Miles Davis Quintet is an album by the Miles Davis Quintet, released in January 1960 by Prestige Records. It was recorded in two sessions on May 11 and October 26, 1956, that produced four albums: this one, Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet, Steamin' with the Miles Davis Quintet and Cookin' with the Miles Davis Quintet.

Track 2 is a composition written for Davis by Eddie Vinson (see Blue Haze for more details). "Trane's Blues" (also known as "Vierd Blues", a tongue-in-cheek reference to Blue Note founder Francis Wolff's heavily accented verdict on it), also credited to Davis, is in fact a John Coltrane composition (originally titled "John Paul Jones", and from an earlier session led by bassist Paul Chambers; before the closing statement of theme, Coltrane and Davis play a bit of Charlie Parker's "The Hymn").

Background

As his star rose in 1955, Davis formed a new quintet, featuring saxophonist John Coltrane, pianist Red Garland, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Philly Joe Jones. In order to fulfill contractual obligations, he recorded lengthy, spontaneous songs with the quintet, which were released over four albums— Cookin', Relaxin', Workin', and Steamin' with the Miles Davis Quintet.

Track listing

Prestige – LP 7166:

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."It Never Entered My Mind"Richard Rodgers5:26
2."Four"Miles Davis7:15
3."In Your Own Sweet Way"Dave Brubeck5:45
4."The Theme" (Take 1)Miles Davis2:01
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Trane's Blues" (a.k.a. "Vierd Blues")John Coltrane8:35
2."Ahmad's Blues"Ahmad Jamal7:26
3."Half Nelson"Miles Davis4:48
4."The Theme" (Take 2)Miles Davis1:03
Total length:41:59

All tracks recorded on May 11, 1956, except "Half Nelson", recorded on October 26.

Personnel