Miles Davis: Birth of the Blue

Chad Kassem had an idea, and it was a good one. Take four studio tracks recorded on May 26, 1958 by the exact same sextet that would immortalize themselves on Kind of Blue less than a year later, and give them the audiophile treatment they never received. The result is Birth of the Blue, a release that finally presents this material as a proper standalone album rather than compilation filler.

The lineup needs no introduction. Miles Davis on trumpet, John Coltrane on tenor, Cannonball Adderley on alto, Bill Evans on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums. This configuration existed for roughly eight months. What they accomplished in that window changed jazz forever. These four tracks, "On Green Dolphin Street," "Fran-Dance," "Stella by Starlight," and "Love for Sale," have bounced around compilations for decades. Jazz Track in 1959. Basic Miles in 1973. The Japanese release 1958 Miles in 1974. None of them treated this session with the respect it deserved.

For this release, Vic Anesini at Battery Studios mixed a fresh stereo master from the original Columbia 3 track session tapes. Matthew Lutthans cut lacquers at The Mastering Lab using Doug Sax's legendary all tube system and cutting lathe. Gary Salstrom handled plating at QRP, where the 180g vinyl was pressed. The chain is impeccable.

The sonic presentation captures Columbia's 30th Street Studio in all its glory. This sounds like 1958 in the best possible way. Miles' trumpet has body and presence without any digital sheen. Coltrane and Cannonball weave through the arrangements with clarity that lets you pick out each voice. The rhythm section locks in beautifully, though some listeners have noted Evans sits slightly back in the mix. It's a minor quibble on an otherwise exceptional transfer.

From a pressing standpoint, QRP delivered. Our blue vinyl copy is flat, dead quiet, and dynamic. No issues with surface noise or off center pressings that sometimes plague even premium releases.

The packaging mirrors a Columbia jazz release from that era. Stoughton tip on gatefold with a scuff resistant matte finish. Ashley Kahn, author of Kind of Blue: The Making of the Miles Davis Masterpiece, contributed liner notes that provide essential context. At $40 for the black vinyl version, it's reasonably priced for what you get.

A note on versions. The limited blue vinyl pressing was capped at 1,000 numbered copies and sold out quickly. The black vinyl initially came numbered as well for the first 1,000 units, then continued as an unnumbered pressing. Both sound identical. If you missed the blue, don't sweat it.

Is this essential? If you're a Miles completist or serious about this era of jazz, absolutely. These are the same players, the same studio, the same vibe that produced one of the greatest records ever made.

Birth of the Blue captures the sextet in a loose, exploratory mode that feels like a blowing session among friends who happen to be giants. It's not Kind of Blue. Nothing is. But it's a perfect companion piece, and Analogue Productions has given it the presentation it always deserved. 💰

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