New releases last eight weeks: Jazz

Review: This early gem - in fact, it was the maestro's first ever 12" record - shows a masterful command of space and melody, spotlighting a warm, muted trumpet tone alongside a pared-down ensemble. Without a saxophone, the spotlight remains squarely on the lead, providing ample room for expansive solos and lyrical interpretations. Anchored by a stellar rhythm section featuring a buoyant bassist, impeccable pianist and dynamic drummer, the performances exude a relaxed yet precise energy. Highlights include a fresh, distinctive take on the Dizzy Gillespie classic 'A Night in Tunisia', where the group reimagines the piece with effortless ingenuity. Original compositions add further depth, with a witty riposte to a well-known standard and a contemplative piece that lingers in the listener's mind. A transitional moment for one of the all time greats, hinting at the greatness to come all the way back in 1955.

Review: April 10, 1970. Miles Davis, fresh from his Jack Johnson sessions and with a new face in the band, soprano saxophonist Steve Grossman, take the stage at San Francisco's Fillmore West and set about sparking a revolution in jazz by fusing it with rock and funk elements. Captured on Black Beauty: Miles Davis at Fillmore West, this performance is one for the agesifull of explosive improvisation, raw energy and a palpable sense of transformation. The album, finally reissued on vinyl after years of being locked away in Japan, is a time capsule of a moment in jazz history where tradition was discarded and a new frontier was being built. With his usual crewiGrossman, Chick Corea on keys, Dave Holland on bass, Jack DeJohnette on drums, and Airto Moreira on percussioniDavis steered the ship into turbulent, unpredictable waters. It's all about the groove, the shifts in rhythm, and the untamed trumpet blasts that echo through the room like firecrackers. Tracks like 'Miles Runs the Voodoo Down' - from the milestone Bitches Brew album, which had come out a mere month before - and 'It's About That Time' tear apart the old jazz playbook, plunging deep into rock territory while still holding on to the open-ended freedom of improvisation. This is the raw, unfiltered jazz that would come to define the electric period of Davis' caree - a live-wire snapshot of a jazz legend finding new possibilities in real-time.

Review: Miles Davis' quintet was formed in 1955 and soon after began impressing the jazz world with the sort of invention that eventually saw them hailed as one of the greatest in history. Each member - including Miles on trumpet, John Coltrane on tenor sax, Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on bass and Art Taylor on drums - was a creative force in their own right. Cookin' proved that and came on Prestige as the first in a series of four albums, later followed by Steamin', Workin' and Relaxin'. These albums were recorded during two highly productive sessions in May and October of 1956 and the quintet's groundbreaking work explored a dynamic blend of improvisation, technical skill and innovative jazz exploration.