Dug this one up at Super Flea for a dollar. I know what you’re thinking; that’s no big surprise. This isn’t a rare or hard to find record. Typically that’s true, but the copy I picked up was a little different than your average. An older neighbor of mine who used to come over, drink beer and listen to jazz records was hanging out one afternoon. When he pulled this record from the shelf he stared at it and kept reading the catalog number out loud. It was a little odd. Then with wide eyes he looked at me and said, “Where did you get this? It’s an original pressing from the first run.” After hearing that I looked into it and found that my specific copy is extremely rare, especially considering the condition it’s in. Who cares though? I’m not in the market of dealing records. I just like listening to them and this is one of my favorite albums to listen to. In my opinion there’s not a better example of Miles’ range than his playing on this record. He’s delicately soft, piercingly bold and everything in between. His horn personifies Porgy and Bess. Porgy’s innocence, Bess’ comfort in him and eventually her fear for him and of Sportin Life. I fully accept that Gershwin wrote this piece but Miles was supernaturally cast to play it. Get familiar with the story, light some candles, turn the lights off and put this album on; it’s transcendent.
• Released 1958 on Columbia
Review by: Def Wax
Def Wax 