Birth of the Cool is surely one of Miles Davis’ greatest albums. Recorded almost a decade before it’s release in 1959 it was Miles’ first collaboration with arranger Gil Evans and alongside other cutting edge musicians like Gerry Mulligan, Lee Konitz, Gunther Schuller.
The Re-Birth Octet was formed in 2021 by Brighton based musician Chris Coull. Taking the original 78rpm compositions by Miles, Gil Evans and Gerry Mulligan the music has been extended into more substantial charts that feature each of the Octet’s personnel, whilst staying true to the ensemble colour and harmony so distinctive of this seminal album which saw the dawn of the cool-school / West coast jazz era of the 1950’s.
Two of the UK’s finest exponents of modern jazz in Andy Panayi (alto saxophone) and Jim Rattigan (French horn) together with Chris Coull on trumpet lead the top end of these lush harmonic jazz tunes. They are complimented by the lower end of the horn section in Mike Pilley (trombone), Bob McKay (baritone sax) and Gabriel Garrick (sousaphone). Finishing off the group is a two-piece rhythm section of George Trebar (bass) and young gun Joe Edwards (drums).
Chris Coull – Trumpet (picture)
Andy Panayi – Alto Sax
Jim Rattigan – French Horn
Mike Pilley – Trombone
Bob McKay – Baritone Sax
Gabriel Garrick – Sousaphone
George Trebar – Bass
Joe Edwards – Drums
