Blue Moods (1955)

"In the '50s, the party line among New York jazz critics was that hard bop was the 'true faith' and that cool jazz was lightweight and unemotional. But Miles Davis knew better. The trumpeter was smart enough to realize that cool jazz and hard bop were equally valid parts of the house that Charlie Parker built, and he had no problem working with cool jazzmen one minute and hard boppers the next. "Blue Moods" is an excellent example of cool jazz. However, although vibist Teddy Charles was cool-oriented, Mingus (upright bass) and Elvin Jones (drums) were never considered cool players - and the lyrical trombonist Britt Woodman was best known for his work with Duke Ellington. Nonetheless, the things that characterized cool jazz - subtlety, restraint, and understatement - characterize "Blue Moods". Mingus and Jones were certainly capable of being forceful and aggressive, but you won't hear them being intense here; a very laid-back, gently introspective approach prevails." (Alex Henderson, Allmusic; 4 uit 5 sterren)