When you realize that these sides were cut in 1949, you can only but marvel at the both the sophistication of both the music and the sound. For those of you that might think that anything recorded almost 60 years ago must sound primitive, think again. This is modern music, timeless music, and will pay dividends on a good sound system. How many 58 year old recording can say that?

This is great stuff, period.

... but I do like and own almost all of Miles Davis's albums. I really don't care for "Birth of the Cool". The sound quality is great, the musicianship is excellent but it feels clinical and cold. Again, I am not an avid fan of jazz; I do not have the background or education of a jazz fan, but the reason I have such a deep Miles collection is that his music, by and far, is very moving. Not this album. Though technically proficient "Birth of the Cool" does not have a mood or "feel" to it that I associate with Miles Davis. If you are not a big-time jazz fan per se I would not recommend this as a starting point for Miles Davis; save it for the experts!

For ANYONE who is considering collecting any of the All-Time Classics THIS is a Must-Have to complete it!!! This has even been used in an epidsode of The Simpsons, so that should tell you something. This 'Flows' from the start to the finish. Although this has been released on an Expanded Edition with an poorly recorded Unreleased 'Live' Session, but THIS is The One to have in your collection.

This is simply beautiful music;
fresh from the be-bop academy of Charlie Parker, Miles Davis has finally proven himself as an carismatic leader...

Having spent some time at Julliard and (according to his own autobiography), having studied some classics of the classical western music, Miles also drew from some earlier interesting models of jazz arranging - Claude Thornhill is mentioned most of the time, but young Gerry Mulligan has heralded this style even in some arrangements for Gene Krupa's big band (not to mention some of the "advanced" tracks by Henderson, Ellington and other classical bands).

This is therefore a beautiful blend of the be-bop musical language and more subdued and subtle arranging ("neo-classical"), creating a genuine and very influential cool breeze that will influence future cool and west-coast jazz artists. Gerry Mulligan seems to be the best arranger of the album (although Gil Evans is also excellent), while Miles, Mulligan and Konitz give the most inspiring solos if you want my humble opinion...

Well, since other have put it so eloquently, I'll only add my 5 stars...
Naturally, if you liked Porgy and Bess or Sketches of SpainSketches Of Spain you're bound to love this as well...

The songs on The Birth of the Cool are like the ninja of old. They do what they need to, fast, and leave. But unlike ninja attacks, these songs (which include classics like "Jeru", "Venus de Milo" and "Boplicity") are not painful in the least. The arrangements are tight and the songs are melodic, slightly Hollywood-esque but quite beautiful and well-performed. The songs themselves are also quite brief, as I implied a few sentence back - nothing over five minutes, in fact. The nonet plays together quite well, complementing each other throughout. They all have the mellow sound down - the album kinda sounds alike, but with great songs like "Rogue", "Rocker" and "Israel" on hand, who can complain? Now the only song I don't really like is "Darn That Dream", which falls in my list of Ten Songs We've All Heard Too Many Times Before. As for the rest? Get it. Not before Kind of Blue, 'Round about Midnight or In a Silent Way, but still get it!