Miles Davis cut his teeth as a jazzman learning the chops-busting, blistering heads of bebop beside mentors Bird and Diz. But mid-tempo tunes and ballads suited this protean improviser’s temperament more readily and set the musical terrain where he was to hone his unique trumpet voice. On sumptuous, lilting tunes like “Stella By Starlight,” “Someday My Prince Will Come” and “I Loves You Porgy,” Miles caresses melodies with the lyricism of a romantic poet in an ideal, after-hours set.

Talk about picking the right notes–if there is a more hauntingly poignant and beautiful sound in all of jazz than when Miles holds onto a single aching tone, it has not yet been recorded. As usual he keeps the best of company in the studio and on stage. John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock and Gil Evans, for example, are on hand for many of these tracks.