This two-LP set combines together sets originally known as
The Musings of Miles and simply
Miles but could have been jointly retitled "The Birth of a Quintet." The great trumpeter is featured in top form with pianist
Red Garland, bassist
Oscar Pettiford and drummer
Philly Joe Jones on two of his originals and four standards for the first session, and with
Garland,
Jones, bassist
Paul Chambers and a tentative-sounding tenor-saxophonist named
John Coltrane on five standards and the initial version of
Benny Golson's "Stablemates" a few months later. Since
Coltrane is not heard from much here, it is for the excellent rhythm sections and the playing of
Miles Davis that this two-fer is highly recommended.