Miles Davis-Seven Steps To Heaven (1963)

"Seven Steps to Heaven" is Miles Davis's twenty-ninth studio album, his second recorded under the Columbia label, and the first to feature his famous Quintet, composed of Ron Carter (bass), Victor Feldman (piano), Tony Williams and Frank Butler (drums), Herbie Hancock (keyboards), and George Coleman (saxophone), the latter later replaced by Wayne Shorter, another key musician in Davis's later career. On this album, Davis had not yet begun his transition to jazz-rock/fusion; however, in various passages, the trumpeter ventures beyond classic jazz, exploring avant-garde and experimental sounds. This expansion into more progressive territory is present in the refreshing "So Near, So Far" and in the bluesy melodies "Basin Street Blues" and "I Fall in Love Too Easy", while be-bop jazz appears in the title track or in the swing "Baby Won't You Please Come Home", while "Joshua" is the perfect example of the instrumental talent of the entire band, crafting an excellent and adventurous harmonic jazz melody.