This seven disc boxed set chronicles the early stages of the "second great quintet" of Miles Davis. Chronicling the two sessions that would become the Seven Steps To Heaven album as well as the live shows from 1963 and 1964 which would become the Miles Davis In Europe, My Funny Valentine, Four & More, Miles In Tokyo and Miles In Berlin albums, the boxed set throws in four unissued performances from the studio sessions and three unissued live performances as well as restoring 3 of the live performances to their full, unedited form and restoring the original sequences of all the live shows. For good measure, a deluxe slipcase and a 92-page booklet are also included.

What does a front-man do when his entire classic quintet have left for either personal reasons, opportunity or lack of work? If you're Miles Davis in the early '60's, you replace them with a quintet that is arguably better than the original. Though this boxed set only touches on the final quintet that evolved into the extraordinary band that would reinvent jazz for the coming decades, it highlights an incredible artistic genesis. This set is all about the journey from the end of the first "great quintet" to the creation of the second. The revolving-door cast of musicians is as important to this journey as the music itself. For the first time, Miles finds himself leading a band of musicians who are significantly younger and eagerly immersed himself in their avante-garde approach. Led by the inspired improv of these younger musicians and his own inspired playing, the quintet moves further and further from the neo-classic sound of the first quintet and into the avante-garde approach that would highlight the quintet's peak in the mid to late '60's.

Though aimed more at the jazz enthusiast because of it's significant repetition, this set can be enjoyed by anyone who can take the time to pay attention to the music. Because of a dispute with his producer, Davis refused to return to the studio after the Seven Steps sessions until 1966. In order to fufill conractual obligations, the aforementioned live albums were released. Although laden with material identified with the earlier quintet, not one note comes across as stale or overused. If you pay attention to the songs and the specific versions, you can actually tell when the musicians are improvising on parts, particularly in the case of Davis and saxophonist Wayne Shorter. The improv in no way makes the songs chaotic, either. The soloists tend to improvise while staying grounded in the medly and rythm of the songs.

Showcasing a rare period of creative and artistic genious with superb packaging and clean, crisp remastered sound, this set presents a fantastic representation of the bridge between Miles' earlier classic jazz work to the later avant-garde approach that would highlight the remainder of his work in '60's. It can truly be enjoyed by anyone who can appreciate improv jazz.

Rating: 9 of 10