Blue Note to release ‘Tone Poet’ vinyl edition of Miles Davis classic ‘Birth of the Cool’
Blue Note Records has announced a definitive new vinyl reissue of Miles Davis’ seminal album “Birth of the Cool” to mark the centennial of the legendary trumpeter’s birth.
The “Tone Poet” edition, scheduled for release May 22, was mastered by Kevin Gray directly from the original analog phono reel master tapes. Produced by Joe Harley, the album is pressed on 180g vinyl at Record Technology Inc. and features a deluxe gatefold jacket with session photography by William “PoPsie” Randolph.
“‘Birth of the Cool’ is a mood and a palette, where space and arrangement become as vital as the notes themselves,” Harley said in a statement. “You’ll hear this as never before, from session masters gathered from the original phono reels.”
Recorded in 1949 and 1950 for Capitol Records, the sessions documented a 12-piece nonet that grew out of rehearsals at arranger Gil Evans’ Manhattan apartment. The group featured an unusual instrumental lineup for the era, including French horn and tuba, which created textures influenced by impressionist classical music.
The album features a roster of jazz luminaries including Gerry Mulligan, Lee Konitz, Max Roach, and J.J. Johnson. Originally released as a series of 10-inch singles, the tracks were compiled into the 12-inch “Birth of the Cool” LP in 1957.
The reissue is a key component of the “Miles Davis 100” global celebration. Davis, an eight-time Grammy winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in 20th-century music, pioneering genres ranging from cool jazz to electric fusion.
The release precedes a series of centennial events planned for late May, including a symphonic premiere in Brooklyn on May 26, the date of Davis’ 100th birthday.
