Miles Davis 'Round About Midnight CD

With the release of the spectral title tune, and the efforts of the Columbia marketing and publicity departments behind him, a thirty-year old Miles Davis entered into a period of extraordinary artistic maturity and growth. And Miles instinctively knew how to cultivate his star quality. Looming behind those shades, was the diffident, sensitive anti-hero--proud and defiant--who only spoke to his audience through his horn, and turned his back on them when the other soloists were blowing.

The combination of attitude and intellect was irresistible. Beginning with ROUND ABOUT MIDNIGHT and proceeding through a remarkable succession of famous recordings over the next 30 years, Miles Davis became one of the greatest soloists, arrangers and talent scouts in the history of American music. People who didn't own a single jazz record came to know his name--Miles was a jazz icon.

His famous intro on the title tune is based on mentor Dizzy Gillespie's arrangement, and Miles' tone, always a strong point, has here matured into something deeply personal and unique. His provocative use of space and silence--matched only by Lester Young, Billie Holiday and Thelonious Monk--sets up the famous release and Coltrane's agitated statement. Here and on the Prestige recordings, Coltrane found his voice as Miles' foil, while "The Rhythm Section" (pianist Red Garland, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Joe Jones), became the most celebrated in jazz--capable of smooth, bouncy delicacy ("Dear Old Stockholm," "All Of You" and "Bye Bye Blackbird"), hard swing ("Tadd's Delight") and relentless complexity (Charlie Parker's contrapuntal "Ah-Leu-Ch"). A masterpiece.

Miles Davis' entry into the Sony Legacy Edition series features his Columbia Records debut and the first offering from his quintet with John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones. The label already issued the album in a definitive presentation with four additional tracks taken from the sessions onboard. Musically, the sound on 'Round About Midnight is as unusual and beautiful as it was when it was issued in 1956. Davis, having already spearheaded two changes in jazz -- with cool jazz and hard bop -- was beginning to move in another direction here that wouldn't be defined for another two years. The title track showcasing his muted trumpet premiered at the Newport Jazz Festival the previous summer (in a sextet with Thelonious Monk on piano) to a thunderous reception, and the studio offering is stunning as well. Charlie Parker's "Au Leu-Cha" is edgy, with deep blues leaping from every chord. Coltrane's solo is notable for its stark contrast to Davis' own: Coltrane chooses an angular tack where he finds the heart of the mode and plays in harmonic counterpoint to the changes but never sounds outside. Cole Porter's "All of You" has Davis quoting from Louis Armstrong's "Basin Street Blues" in his solo. On "Bye-Bye Blackbird" we get to hear the band gel as a unit, beginning with Davis playing through the head, muted and sweet, slightly flatted out until he reaches the chorus and

Recorded at Columbia Studios, New York, New York between October 26, 1955 and September 10, 1956. Includes liner notes by Bob Blumenthal.

Personnel: Miles Davis (trumpet); Miles Davis; Paul Chambers, Percy Heath (bass instrument); John Coltrane, Zoot Sims (tenor saxophone); Gerry Mulligan (baritone saxophone); Red Garland, Thelonious Monk (piano); Connie Kay, Philly Joe Jones (drums).

Liner Note Authors: George Avakian; Gene Norman; Bob Blumenthal.

Recording information: Columbia 30th Street Studio, New York, NY (07/17/1955-09/10/1956); Columbia Studio D, New York, NY (07/17/1955-09/10/1956); Newport Jazz Festival (07/17/1955-09/10/1956); Pasadena Civic Auditorium (07/17/1955-09/10/1956).

Photographers: Don Hunstein; Dennis Stock; Art Maillet; Aram Avakian.

Personnel: Miles Davis (trumpet); John Coltrane (tenor saxophone); William "Red" Garland (piano); Paul Chambers (bass); Philly Joe Jones (drums).