Dig (Remastered)

Three giants of jazz — Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, and Art Blakey — play together on Dig, a classic recorded in 1951. (The other musicians, pianist Walter Bishop, alto saxophonist Jackie McLean, and bassist Tommy Potter, are no slouches either.) The album is a landmark both musically and technologically: it’s one of the first examples of hard bop captured on vinyl, and the original recording appeared on the then-new medium of the 12” LP, which allowed for longer tracks and extended soloing. Rollins, who was 21 at the time, already displays his cool, distinctive tone on tenor. His warm sound contrasts nicely with Davis’ edgy approach and McLean’s incisive alto lines. Davis’ solos are extraordinarily modern; at times you might think you are listening to the trumpeter’s work from the ‘60s. Even at this early point in his career, Davis displays his compositional gifts on four originals: the title cut, “Denial,” “Bluing,” and “Out of the Blue.” With such stellar frontmen, you can take the rhythm section for granted, but the swinging threesome is also worth studying in detail.