Bags' Groove (PRLP 7109) is a jazz album by Miles Davis, released in 1957 by Prestige, compiling material from two 10" LPs recorded in 1954, plus two alternative takes.

Recording

Both takes of the title track come from a session on December 24, 1954, the first version having been previously released on Miles Davis All Stars, Volume 1 (PRLP 196). ("Bags" was vibraphonist Milt Jackson's nickname.) The other tracks recorded during this session may be found on Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Giants (PRLP 7150), and all of them are also featured on the compilation album Thelonious Monk: The Complete Prestige Recordings. The rest of the album was recorded earlier in the year, on June 29, and four of the tracks had already been released as Miles Davis with Sonny Rollins (PRLP 187), with the fifth being a previously unreleased alternative take.

Music

The title track was written by Milt "Bags" Jackson and the three compositions written by the young Sonny Rollins all went on to become jazz standards. On "Oleo," Davis uses a Harmon mute to obtain a unique timbre, one that would become an iconic aspect of his sound.

Track listing

Prestige – LP 7109:

Personnel

June 29, 1954 (Side two)

December 24, 1954 (Side one)