Marvel Comics once had a series titled What If… where they would change the destinies of popular characters just to see what would happen differently. It’s a common science fiction and fantasy plot device and it often goes through my mind when I contemplate Miles Davis performing “’Round Midnight” at the 1955 Newport Jazz Festival. He was on his way back from drug addiction, but still dangerously close to becoming just a footnote in jazz history. Then he took the stage for an informal jam session with Zoot Sims, Thelonius Monk, Percy Heath, Gerry Mulligan, and Connie Kay. George Avakian from Columbia was there and along with the rest of the audience he was blown away by Davis. Soon he signed Davis to a Columbia recording contract and all of the “what if” scenarios for Davis were gone. A legend of jazz was immediately born.
A deluxe two-disc edition of Miles’s first release for Columbia ‘Round About Midnight has been released to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Davis signing with the label. The original album is a jazz classic from the music contained inside to the artwork on the outside. The photo of Miles on the front is as iconographic as it gets with Miles behind sunglasses clutching his horn bathed in an orange red light. It was almost as if he had come from Mars. The music inside was helped by the amazing group of players that came together to form the first Miles Davis Quintet. There was “Philly” Joe Jones on drums, Paul Chambers on bass, piano by Red Garland, and a young John Coltrane on tenor saxophone.
The music ranged from the sublime Cole Porter standard “All Of You” with Davis employing the Harmon mute sound, the restrained bop of “Ah-Leu-Cha” which features a Dixieland counterpoint at beginning and end, the Paul Chambers bass showcase of “Dear Old Stockholm”, to the universally loved “’Round Midnight” itself. The first disc contains 4 bonus cuts all recorded during the same sessions as those that produced ‘Round About Midnight. “Little Melonae” and “Two Bass Hit” are both standouts with Coltrane showing flashes of his future brilliance on the simmering latter cut. The bonus disc contains a live show recorded at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 18th, 1956 and the performance of “’Round Midnight” at the 1955 Newport Jazz Festival that was the spark that started the ‘Round About Midnight album.
Don’t let yourself wonder what if you’d bought ‘Round About Midnight. It’s a great place to start listening to Miles Davis, a true superhero of jazz.
Article comments
1 - crooked spine
I made the mistake, years ago, of trying to introduce myself to Miles Davis by buying Bitches Brew. I listed to it countless times, but could never get into it. It seemed more like an experiment with musical instruments than something to be listened to for enjoyment. For years & years it was the only Miles CD I had. Eventually I got around to checking out his earlier stuff, and it blew me away. It finally made sense to me why Miles is considered such a genius.
I know a lot of people love Bitches Brew, but for anyone thinking about buying their first Miles Davis album I would recommend 'Round About Midnight or Kind of Blue.
2 - Temple Stark
Wally,
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3 - wallybangs
Thanks Temple, and thanks to all of the other editors.