Description
Miles Davis Quintet – Relaxin’ With – 180 Gram Vinyl Record
Released in March 1958, Relaxin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet is one of four albums recorded in 1956 during two marathon sessions that produced some of the most legendary hard bop records in jazz history. Alongside Cookin’, Workin’, and Steamin’, this album captures Miles Davis’ First Great Quintet—a lineup featuring John Coltrane on tenor saxophone, Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums—at their peak. Each track embodies a sense of spontaneity, fluidity, and sheer musical chemistry, making it one of the most essential records of the era.
The album was recorded for Prestige Records, fulfilling Davis’ contractual obligations before he moved to Columbia Records. Instead of carefully planned compositions, the quintet opted for loose, improvisational takes, often recorded in a single take, with minimal rehearsal and maximum feel. The result is an album that feels effortless, intimate, and full of life, as though the listener is sitting in on a late-night club session.
From the opening notes of If I Were a Bell, the album radiates warmth and charm. Davis’ muted trumpet glides over a light, swinging rhythm, setting the relaxed yet dynamic tone of the record. You’re My Everything follows, featuring Red Garland’s lush, block-chord piano intro before Davis and Coltrane weave elegant, conversational solos over the ballad’s structure.
I Could Write a Book is one of the most playful tracks on the album, showcasing Davis’ lyrical phrasing and Coltrane’s increasingly adventurous approach to improvisation. Meanwhile, Oleo injects a shot of high-energy bebop, with Philly Joe Jones’ crisp drumming pushing the band into a fast-paced swing, while Davis and Coltrane exchange brilliant solos.
The album slows down with It Could Happen to You, a delicate yet emotionally rich performance, before closing with Woody ‘n You, a classic Dizzy Gillespie composition that allows the quintet to stretch out and showcase their dynamic group interplay.
What makes Relaxin’ stand out is its effortless cool, capturing the relaxed confidence of Davis and his quintet. This album was one of the defining moments in the transition from bebop to modal jazz, setting the stage for Davis’ later explorations on Kind of Blue (1959). While Coltrane was still developing his voice at this stage, you can already hear the bold, searching improvisation that would later define his career.
Relaxin’ has been regarded as one of the greatest jazz albums of all time, praised for its balance of swing, balladry, and improvisational mastery. Over six decades later, it remains a go-to album for jazz newcomers and seasoned listeners alike, perfectly encapsulating the magic of Miles Davis’ First Great Quintet. Whether played in the background or studied intently, Relaxin’ is exactly what its title suggests—a smooth, captivating experience that never gets old.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic sealed
Track Listing
If I Were A Bell
You’re My Everything
I Could Write A Book
Oleo
It Could Happen To You
Woody’n You
