The years Miles Davis spent as a Prestige recording artist (1951-1956) found the trumpeter leading the way in establishing the "long-playing" performances made possible by microgroove recording technology, discovering his haunting, walking-on-eggshells muted sound, launching his first legendary quintet, and earning a reputation as talent scout supreme through championing such promising musicians as John Coltrane, Red Garland, Sonny Rollins, and Horace Silver. The original version of "Walkin'," "Airegin," and "Doxy," plus four tracks featuring the immortal unit with Coltrane, Garland, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones make this collection an invaluable overview of how Davis's music changed the course of jazz.

with John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones, Percy Heath, Kenny Clarke, Sonny Rollins, Horace Silver, J.J. Johnson, Oscar Pettiford, Davey Schildkraut, Lucky Thompson, John Lewis, and Max Roach