The Birth of the Cool album is a compilation of music recorded in the formative part of Miles Davis’ career, which for many represents a watershed moment in post-war music and in the history of jazz. This is now known as The Birth of the Cool, with the music that this historic nine piece group created in 1949 and 1950.
The group had a number of future jazz heavyweights, including: Gerry Mulligan, Lee Konitz, Max Roach, John Lewis, the arranger Gil Evans, and of course band leader, Miles Davis.
Unlike a big band or a small jazz group, the unconventional line up of instruments is specifically selected for the warmth of their voices and the depth of timbre that they create together.
The music of the Birth of the Cool is truly unique, combining bebop with classical techniques, polyphony, and the voices of a rich ensemble. Today these tunes sound as fresh as ever and offer a very rare opportunity to hear this music live.
The arrangements have been carefully collated by musical director, Tom Harker, with later collaborations between Miles Davis and Gil Evans also being showcased in adaptations from the albums Porgy & Bess and Miles Ahead.
The programme takes the opportunity to further explore jazz nonet repertoire in a contrasting context with arrangements by Steve Fishwick, McCoy Tyner, and Abdullah Ibrahim.
essential companion tickets available. These tickets are for adult patrons who require essential support during their visit. All children aged under 14 must be seated with an accompanying adult (18+) when watching a performance.
