MY NORTHERN SKIES

Featured Album | 394

Miles Davis | ‘Round About Midnight | Columbia CL 949 | 1957

The first of a fruitful partnership with Columbia Records, ‘Round About Midnight is a vehicle for the musician’s first great quintet, which features alongside Miles Davis on trumpet, John Coltrane on tenor saxophone, Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on double bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums. It takes just six numbers to demonstrate the unique talents of this quintet, with each member of the band on fine form throughout. Setting out their stall with compositions ranging from Cole Porter and Charlie Parker, through to Tad Dameron and Thelonious Monk, whose title tune, “‘Round Midnight”, without the additional noun, opens the album on a rather melancholy note, conjuring the feel of the twilight hours. Parker’s “Ah-Leu-Cha” is actually a contrafact of the earlier “Honeysuckle Rose” and provides the album with its sincere nod to the bebop era. In the same year, Miles would release Miles Ahead, his first collaboration with noted Canadian arranger Gil Evans, followed by the release some of the most outstanding records in jazz, including Milestones, Kind of Blue and Someday My Prince Will Come. In a way, it was this album that paved the way for some landmark collaborations.

Playlist:

Cousin Mary – Archie Shepp (Four for Trane)

Bye Bye Blackbird – Miles Davis (Round About Midnight)

Fishin’ – Lee Konitz & Gary Foster (Body & Soul)

Tertia – Bud Shank Quartet (With Claude Williamson)

Old Devil Moon – Peggy Lee (Jump for Joy)

Lazy River – Janet Seidel (The Way You Wear Your Hat)

Round Midnight – Miles Davis (Round About Midnight)

Lady Be Good – Benny Goodman Quartet (Together Again)