Blue Moods was recorded in 1955, for bassist Charles Mingus’ short-lived Debut label. It features Davis accompanied by trombonist Britt Woodman, Teddy Charles on vibes, Mingus on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums. This was not a performing group; it was assembled just for this session, and features no original material from any of the members. It’s also extremely short — four tracks in 27 minutes. And in keeping with its title, it’s a very subdued, mellow album.

The opening track, “Nature Boy,” sets the tone for the rest; the melody drifts out of Davis’ muted horn like vapor, as the trombone and vibes sway behind him. Mingus’ bass sound is, as ever, huge (the original album liner notes claimed that the short running time was due to its being cut with super-wide grooves, in order to make room for more bass), and Elvin Jones creates an almost ominous mood with toms and cymbals. The next track, “Alone Together,” is a little more uptempo, with a little bit of an exotic/lounge feel, and Woodman and Davis are on a more or less equal plane when the melody’s being stated, though the trumpeter still gets the solo space. “There’s No You,” the longest and most uptempo track, almost lets Elvin Jones cut loose with one of his apocalyptic drum solos, but stops just short of the full explosion. And things wind down with “Easy Living,” a foggy, melancholy ballad that mirrors “Nature Boy” in its simmering, blue-tinged beauty. There’s not a lot of music here, but everything that is offered is stellar.