Miles Davis - 'Round About Midnight

1st class Miles plus some hot Trane

It's really hard to disagree with most of the reviewers; this is Miles at his lyrical and contemplative best, and John Coltrane is really spicing the things up with his rough tenor; contrasting the leader's horn very effectivelly...

And yes, this is the album that has both the magnificent version of Monk's 'Round Midnight and the beautiful and extremely creative version of children song Bye Bye Blackbird! But there is also boppish Ah-Leu-Cha, sentimental and ironic All of You...

Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on the bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums are a rhythm section at the same time powerfull and subtle, ideal for supporting and inspiring the horns... June 8, 2008

MILES DAVIS' FIRST COLUMBIA RECORD

'Round About Midnight was Miles Davis' Columbia debut LP and one of his calmest recordings ever. The first song 'Round Midnight is an excellent old '50s song, recorded on 9/10/1956. The next song which was the first session Ah-Leu-Cha is excellent, recorded on 10/26/1955. All of You and Bye Bye Blackbird have really great piano. Bye Bye Blackbird is my favorite song here, it has the best piano. All the songs in this album are excellent as well as other Miles Davis. Get this with Kind of Blue and you can enjoy a relaxing late 1950s. April 17, 2008

embrionic Miles

This album captures the magic and lyricism of Miles and his quintet at their beginning of what for Miles will be a iconic jazz career. Even at this early stage of his development it is a serious blend of laconic sounds and melodies with an undertone of nervous energy and exploration. The track 'Round midnight' demonstrates that it was always meant for a Miles interpretation. He and his group place their own credentials on this jazz classic and in many ways expand the genius of Thelonius Monks' composition. Miles is ably supported by the other members of the group. John Coltrane applies his talents to expand on Miles' leads and successfully complements his playing. Red Garland on piano provides a counterpoint to the two brass players and rounds and finishes the broad spectrum of the music. Philly Joe Jones and Paul Chambers on drums and bass keep the performances tight and disciplined without dampening the improvisation and exploration of the melodies. A great introduction to all artists. November 28, 2007

The Ma-je-st-er-y of the 1st Quintet

Mastery, majesty, yeah, it's all that!

The Miles Davis Quintet's recording of 'Round Midnight on this release is the GREATEST JAZZ RECORDING of ALL TIME. No Question. I normally don't like proclamations like the greatest this or the greatest that. I'm making an exception for 'Round Midnight. I'm not going to dissect these tracks one by one.

However, notice I said "on this release" That's because another version of 'Round Midnight by this quintet also exists on the Prestige label. It was released on "The Modern Jazz Giants" which is a mixture of music by this quintet and other tracks from the famous "Bag's Groove" session. I own every single track available from this line-up and that should tell you something about how I feel about this group's music. I also highly recommend the The Legendary Prestige Sessions box set on the Prestige label - check my review on that one, it's a four disc set that comes exquisitely packaged and at a very reasonable price.

This band was perhaps the greatest small ensemble in the history of jazz, but then that argument can also be made for the later quintet/sextet that featured Davis, Coltrane, Adderly, Cobb, and Chambers. It can also be made for the Davis, Williams, Shorter, Hancock, Carter quintet. Sometimes it just depends on what line-up I happen to be listening to at the time as to which one I think was Miles' best band.

When I started collecting Miles, it was his funky electric music that really grabbed me. I even started my own band that specialized in his 70's era music. But then I picked up 'Round About Midnight' and started collecting the music of these earlier Davis quintets. I have to say, very honestly, that Miles' later music lacks the "richness" of these earlier bands. That doesn't mean I don't like the later stuff, I LOVE it. But it lacks the substance of this earlier period. Miles sure isn't/wasn't a god (some regard him as such) but when it comes to jazz, even though he hated the "J" word, well he is just awesome and incomparable! Thank you God for the music of Miles Dewey Davis!

as mentioned above:

The Legendary Prestige Quintet Sessions
Miles Davis & the Modern Jazz Giants (20 Bit Mastering)
Bags Groove September 6, 2007

awesome quintet...legendary recording..

Miles Davis first recording with Columbia Records. Miles, trumpet, John Coltrane, tenor saxophone, Philly Joe Jones, drums, Red Garland, piano, and Paul Chambers, bass. If there was a jazz Hall of Fame(why isn't there one?) they all would be in it. From that first note of 'Round About Midnight(a Thelonius Monk composition) this album just blows you away. Add this to your jazz collection and you'll find yourself listening to it over and over. A masterpiece. If DaVinci played jazz, it would sound something like this. I put this one along with Porgy and Bess and Kind of Blue as the essential Miles. June 20, 2007

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