THE MUSINGS OF MILES [AKA: THE BEGINNING]

Melodic and inviting music. A quartet of Miles, pianist Red Garland, bassist Oscar Pettiford and drummer Philly Joe Jones. This is a young Miles who impresses the audience technically and draws in the audience with strong melody and affable swinging.

"Will You Still Be Mine?" begins with the perky, punctuated melody, then a solo by Miles that keeps things whimsical. Garland impresses with a rhythmically precise, immaculately articulated breeze of a solo. Miles pushes himself in the second, delving into quick, winding passagework over inventive and dynamic comping from the other three. A nice ride.

"I See Your Face Before Me" is a smooth ballad. Garland begins with a prelude of thick, impressionistic chording. Miles' mute seeks to seduce with a whisper in the main melody. These opening passages are magical. Garland's solo break continues the chordal explorations of the intro. Miles ends with more understated mute playing.

"I Didn't" is a somewhat obnoxious vamp on two chords in a minor-second relationship. Jones solos to intro and things settle into their IMO unpleasant groove. Miles buzzes like a bee. Garland's solo doesn't manage to do much with the vamp until some deft chording over brushes at the end. Miles' second solo leaves room for a couple drum breaks from Jones. The least successful track on the album.

"A Gal in Calico" is an audience-friendly number with cheeky muted playing by Miles.

"A Night in Tunisia" gives Pettiford an opening spotlight while Jones tinkles bell-clad drumsticks. The trumpet entry is harmonically confusing and perfectly stages Garland's comping wonderfully quizzical and mischievous comping to follow. The drum breaks and interaction at the end of the tune are maybe the most impressive moment on the album.

To end, a good-natured cool blues called "Green Haze" keeps the mood light. Garland lays his lush chording over the opening stretch. Miles solos unmuted with eloquence.

There are signs of exploration in the quirky harmonies of "I Didn't" and "A Night in Tunisia" here. But for the most part, this album treads safe ground, content with laying a foundation that qualifies the players as big talents to watch out for. The clear and well-staged recording is a strong point.