Miles Davis

Sure, the serious jazz collector will have no particular need to pay this release any mind. It has eight 1956-1967 Davis ballads, encompassing "'Round Midnight," orchestrated pieces with Gil Evans, and tracks with stellar sidemen like John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Ron Carter, Wayne Shorter, Tony Williams, and Herbie Hancock. The selections are ones that highlight Davis' more sultry and melancholy horn tones, played on the trumpet with the exception of "Blues for Pablo" on which he plays flügelhorn. What this probably does have its value for -- and it's a reasonable value -- is as a token Davis collection for moderate jazz and/or Davis fans or as a gift for someone who likes quality mellow jazz but never really bothers to buy it. Toward that end, it's a fair bet that more than one guy will be giving this to a girlfriend to get her in the mood, so to speak. It's good music (whether used as make-out ambience or not), just not something that fits snugly into the usual "recommended listening" or "picks" sections of discographies. [A Japanese version included bonus tracks.] ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide