Conception
At the Newport Jazz Festival in 1955, Davis performed the song "'Round Midnight" as part of an all-star jam session, with the song's composer Thelonious Monk, along with Connie Kay and Percy Heath of the Modern Jazz Quartet, Zoot Sims, and Gerry Mulligan. Davis's solo received an extremely positive reception from many jazz fans, and critics. It was viewed as a significant comeback and indication of a healthy, drug-free Miles (he had in fact been free from heroin addiction for well over a year). Miles's response to this performance was typically laconic: "What are they talking about? I just played the way I always play." George Avakian of Columbia Records was in the audience, and his brother Aram persuaded him that he ought to sign Davis to the label. Davis was eventually signed to Columbia Records, and was able to form his famous "first great quintet" with John Coltrane on saxophone. 'Round About Midnight was to be his first album for his new label.
Davis was still under contract to Prestige Records, but had an agreement that he could record material for Columbia to release after the expiration of his Prestige contract. The recording dates for the album were at Columbia Records studios; the first session was on October 27, 1955 at Studio D, during which the tracks "Tadd's Delight", "Dear Old Stockholm" and the soon-to-be standard "Bye Bye Blackbird" were recorded. This is the first studio recording of the quintet. The remainder of the album was recorded during sessions on June 5 and September 10, 1956 at Columbia's 30th Street Studio. During the same period, the Miles Davis Quintet was also recording albums to fulfill its contract with Prestige.
Read more about this topic: 'Round About Midnight
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