A Survey of Jazz Recordings 1942 – 1959

This is a chronologically ordered survey of recordings by some of the most influential jazz musicians between 1942-1959 which corresponds to a Spotify Playlist. The musicians I have focused on are Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, Dave Brubeck, Sun Ra, Cecil Taylor, Ornette Coleman and Bill Evans. I also include recordings of significant ensembles that did not necessarily include any of these musicians, such as the Earl Hines band, Billy Eckstine’s band, the Modern Jazz Quartet, The Jazz Messengers, the Clifford Brown-Max Roach Quintet and the Chet Baker-Gerry Mulligan Quartet.

The purpose of this survey was to support, supplement and guide me in my research for some jazz history lectures I was presenting that focussed on this time period and the development of ‘modern jazz’. Although it is extensive with regards to the musicians noted above it excludes many significant jazz musicians and recordings, some of which I hope to address in the near future. I want to stress that this survey is not a history course – it is a collation and ordering of data with a few of my personal opinions thrown in. It was conducted for my own benefit, but I hope that it may be of interest and use to others.

The most helpful source for me was Peter Losin’s incredible website http://www.plosin.com/milesAhead/ which provides extensive discographies of Miles Davis and Charlie Parker with extremely helpful clarity. For the rest I cross-referenced wikipedia entires with discogs.com, J-Disc (by the Center for Jazz Studies at Columbia University), and the discography of American historical recordings.

21/01/1942 Studio recording for RCA-Victor

Duke Ellington and his Orchestra:

Trumpets: Wallace Jones, Rex Stewart, Ray Nance (+ violin)

Trombones: Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol

Reeds: Johnny Hodges (alto), Otto Hardwick (alto + clarinet), Ben Webster (tenor), Barney Bigard (tenor + clarinet), Harry Carney (baritone, alto + clarinet)

RS: Duke Ellington (piano), Fred Guy (guitar), Junior Raglin (bass), Sonny Greer (drums)

Perdido (Juan Tizol)
C Jam Blues (Duke Ellington, Barney Bigard)
Moon Mist (Mercer Ellington)

26/02/1942 Studio recording for RCA-Victor

Duke Ellington and his Orchestra:

Trumpets: Wallace Jones, Rex Stewart, Ray Nance (+ violin)

Trombones: Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol

Reeds: Johnny Hodges (alto), Otto Hardwick (alto + clarinet), Ben Webster (tenor), Barney Bigard (tenor + clarinet), Harry Carney (baritone, alto + clarinet)

RS: Duke Ellington (piano), Fred Guy (guitar), Junior Raglin (bass), Sonny Greer (drums)

What Am I Here For (Duke Ellington, F. Laine)
I Don’t Mind (Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn)
- Featuring Ivie Anderson on vocals
Someone (Duke Ellington)

19/03/1942 Studio recording

Earl Hines and His Orchestra:

Trumpets: Pee Wee Jackson, Shorty McConnell, Jesse Miller, George Dixon (+ bari)

Trombones: George Hunt, Joe McLewis, Gerald Valentine

Reeds: Leroy Harris (alto), Scoops Carry (alto + flute), Willie Randall + Bob Crowder + Budd Johnson (tenors)

RS: Earl Hines (piano), Skeeter Best (guitar), Truck Parham (bass), Rudy Traylor (drums)

She’ll Always Remember
- Featuring Madeline Green and The Three Varieties (Randall, Harris and Johnson)on vocals
Skylark (H. Carmichael, J. Mercer, arr by Budd Johnson)
- Featuring Billy Eckstine on vocals
Second Balcony Jump (Billy Eckstine, Gerald Valentine)
Stormy Monday Blues (Earl Hines, Billy Eckstine, Bob Crowder)
- Featuring Billy Eckstine (vocals)

26/05/1942 Studio recording for Decca

Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra:

Trumpets: Karl George, Ernie Royal, Joe Newman

Trombones: Fred Beckett, Sonny Craven, Harry Sloan

Reeds: Marshal Royal + Ray Perry (altos), Illinois Jacquet + Dexter Gordon (tenors), Jack McVea (bari)

RS: Lionel Hampton (vibraphone), Milt Buckner (piano), Irving Ashby (guitar), Vernon Alley (bass), George Jenkins (drums)

Flying Home (Lionel Hampton, Benny Goodman)

26/06/1942 Studio recording for RCA-Victor

Duke Ellington and his Orchestra:

Trumpets: Wallace Jones, Rex Stewart, Ray Nance (+ violin)

Trombones: Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol

Reeds: Johnny Hodges (alto), Otto Hardwick (alto + clarinet), Ben Webster (tenor), Barney Bigard (tenor + clarinet), Harry Carney (baritone, alto + clarinet)

RS: Billy Strayhorn (piano), Fred Guy (guitar), Junior Raglin (bass), Sonny Greer (drums)

My Little Brown Book (Billy Strayhorn)
- Featuring Herb Jeffries (vocals)
Main Stem (Duke Ellington)
Johnny Come Lately (Billy Strayhorn)

28/07/1942 Studio recording for RCA-Victor

Duke Ellington and his Orchestra:

Trumpets: Wallace Jones, Rex Stewart, Ray Nance (+ violin)

Trombones: Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol

Reeds: Johnny Hodges (alto), Otto Hardwick (alto + clarinet), Ben Webster (tenor), Chauncy Haughton (tenor + clarinet), Harry Carney (baritone, alto + clarinet)

RS: Billy Strayhorn (piano), Fred Guy (guitar), Junior Raglin (bass), Sonny Greer (drums)

Hayfoot, Strawfoot (E. Drake, H. J. Lengsfelder, P. McGrane)
- Featuring Ivie Anderson (vocals)
Sentimental Lady (Duke Ellington)
A Slip Of The Lip (Luther Henderson, Merer Ellington)
- Featuring Ray Nane (vocals)
- (This sounds like early rhythm and blues to me)
Sherman Shuffle (Duke Ellington)

23/01/1943 Live recording from Carnegie Hall

Duke Ellington And His Orchestra:

Trumpets: Wallace Jones, Rex Stewart, Harold Baker, Ray Nance (+ violin)

Trombones: Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol

Reeds: Johnny Hodges (alto), Otto Hardwick (alto + clarinet), Ben Webster (tenor), Chauncy Haughton (tenor + clarinet), Harry Carney (baritone, alto + clarinet)

RS: Duke Ellington (piano), Fred Guy (guitar), Junior Raglin (bass), Sonny Greer (drums)

Vocals: Betty Roche

This is the world premier of Black, Brown & Beige – an extended jazz composition comparable to a symphony in structure. It was split into 3 movements:

Black: Work Song, Come Sunday and Light
Brown: West Indian Influence (aka West Indian Dance), Emancipation Celebration (aka Lighter Attitude) and Blues Theme Mauve
Beige: Various Themes (Sand, Beige and Cy Runs Rock Waltz), Sugar Hill Penthouse and Finale (aka Cream)

June 1943 – July 1944 Studio recording

Dexter Gordon Quintet: Harry Edison (trumpet), Dexter Gordon (tenor), Nat King Cole (piano), unknown/Red Callender/Johnny Miller (bass), Juicy Owens (drums)

I’ve Found A New Baby (J. Palmer, S. Williams)
Rosetta (Earl Hines, Henri Woode)
Sweet Lorraine (C. Burwell, M. Parish)
I Blowed And Gone (Harry Edison)

04/12/1943

Leonard Feather’s All Stars: Edmond Hall (clarinet), Coleman Hawkins (tenor), Cootie Williams (trumpet), Al Casey (guitar), Art Tatum (piano), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Sid Catlett (drums). (All unreleased).

Mop Mop aka Boff Boff) (Coleman Hawkins)
- Really simple yet significant Hawkins composition over the harmonic structure of Gershwin’s I’ve Got Rhythm. The practice of writing new melodies over the harmonic structure of popular songs would become ever more common. One reason for this will have been to avoid paying fees for recording other peoples tunes – chord sequences could not be copyrighted. This new melody is just a riff, but a sophisticated one nonetheless with a balance of on and off-beat accents, followed by that rhythmic answer that provides the name of the tune. It’s a rhythmic melody – the rhythm is more important than the pitches or the order of pitches. You can tell because you would recognize this melody even if it was played on a drum (for those unfamiliar with Max Roach’s seminal solo recording ‘For Big Sid’ – have a listen to how Roach uses this melody as a returning theme in a masterful blend of composition and improvisation).
My Ideal (L. Robin, R. A. Whiting, N.Chase)
Esquire Blues (Leonard Feather)
Esquire Bounce (Leonard Feather)

08/12/1943

Coleman Hawkins and his Orchestra: Andy Fitzgerald (clarinet), Coleman Hawkins (tenor), Bill Coleman (trumpet), Al Casey (guitar), Ellis Larkins (piano), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Shelly Manne (drums)

Stumpy (Coleman Hawkins)
- Another riff over standard chord changes, this time over the old song Whisperin famously recorded by Paul Whiteman. We’ll hear another tune written over these changes soon…
Voodte (Coleman Hawkins)
How Deep Is The Ocean (I. Berlin)
Hawkins Barrel House (Coleman Hawkins)

18/12/1943

Coleman Hawkins Quintet: Coleman Hawkins (tenor), Jimmy Shirley (guitar), Ellis Larkins (piano), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Lover, Come Back To Me
Indiana
Blues Changes (Coleman Hawkins)

23/12/1943

Coleman Hawkins Swing Four: Coleman Hawkins (tenor), Eddie Heywood (tenor), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Shelly Manne (drums)

Get Happy
The Man I Love
Sweet Lorraine

Late 1943 (estimate) Bootleg recording

Charlie Parker jamming: Charlie Parker (alto), Efferge Ware (guitar), “Little” Phil Phillips (drums)

Body and Soul
Cherokee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3vACbUETa0&list=RDZ3vACbUETa0&start_radio=1
My Heart Tells Me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wHeJ0sb_IM

04/01/1944

Cootie Williams Sextet: Cootie Williams (trumpet), Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson (alto), Eddie “Lockjaw Davis (tenor), Bud Powell (piano), Norman Keenan (bass) and Sylvester “Vess” Payne (drums).

This was Bud Powell’s recording debut.

You Talk A Little Trash (Cootie Willams)
Floogie Boo (Eddie Vinson, Cootie Williams)
I Don’t Know (Eddie Vinson, Cootie Williams)
Gotta Do Some War Work aka Do Some War Work, Baby (Cootie Williams)

06/01/1944

My Old Flame (A. Johnston, Sam Coslow)
Sweet Lorraine (C. Burwell, M. Parish)
Echoes of Harlem (Duke Ellington)
Honeysuckle Rose (Fats Waller, A. Razaf)

31/01/1944

Coleman Hawkins Quintet: Coleman Hawkins (tenor), Roy Eldridge (trumpet), Teddy Wilson (piano), Billy Taylor (bass), Cozy Cole (drums)

Bean at the Met (Coleman Hawkins)
- By now we can recognize a sort of formula for Hawk’s composing… A syncopated riff through most of the form with bits of improvisation to fill in the gaps, all over the harmonic structure of an old standard song, this time it’s How High the Moon.
- Nice to hear Roy Eldridge in fine form. Another forward thinking swing stylist. It’s almost bebop isn’t it?
I Only Have Eyes For You
‘S Wonderful
I’m In The Mood For Love

16/02/1944

Coleman Hawkins & His Orchestra: Leonard Lowry + Leo Parker (alto), Coleman Hawkins + Ray Abrams + Don Byas (tenor), Budd Johnson (baritone), Dizzy Gillespie + Vic Coulson + Ed Vandever (trumpet), Clyde Hart (piano), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Woody ‘n You (Dizzy Gillespie)
- Dizzy will become one of, if not the most consequential composer of early bebop. Here the melody is still a riff through the harmony, but this time the harmony is new! The melodic fragment at the end of the A sections is a nice bebop signoff after the more swing-like riff.
- Listen out for Hawkins’ counter melody in the second chorus. I don’t know if it was written or improvised, but its very ‘bebop’. In fact there is a strong case to suggest that this is the first ever commercial bebop recording.
- That triplet figure Dizzy plays in the bridge is one of his often-used tricks, one that Miles will copy in his early career.
Bu-Dee-Daht (Albert Johnson & Clyde Hart)
- Check out the harmony in the A sections of the first chorus – they use tri-tone substitutions to create a different flavour to the standard turnaround that we hear in tunes like I’ve Got Rhythm. Instead of I – VI – II – V we have I – bIII – bVI – V. In the second chorus we hear another harmonic route through the A sections: |bVI |bII |bV |VII |III-VI|II-V|I |. This is a good example of the kinds of extra chords and chord substitutions that some of the musicians were playing around with.
Yesterdays

22/02/1944

Disorder At The Border
Rainbow Mist
- Straight up improvisation over Body and Soul. Those wanting to get deep into Hawk’s playing may find this interesting to compare to his famous 1939 recording of Body and Soul.
Feeling Zero

February 1944

Mary Lou Williams (solo piano)

Blue Skies (I. Berlin)
Caravan (Juan Tizol, Duke Ellington)
Yesterdays (J. Kern, O. Harbach)

12/03/1944

Mary Lou Williams Sextet: Frankie Newton (trumpet), Vic Dickenson (trombone), Edmond Hall (clarinet), Mary Lou Williams (piano), Al Lucas (bass), Jack Parker (drums)

Lullaby of the Leaves (B. Petkere, J. Young)
Little Joe from Chicago (Mary Lou Williams, H. Wells)
Roll ‘Em (Mary Lou Williams)
Satchel Mouth Baby (Mary Lou Williams)
Yesterday’s Kisses (Mary Lou Williams)

13/04/1944

Billy Eckstine and his Orchestra:

Trumpets: Dizzy Gillespie, Al Killian, Shorty McConnell

Trombones: Claude Jones, Howard Scott, Trummy Young

Reeds: Budd Johnson (alto), Thomas Crump + Wardell Gray (tenors), Rudy Rutherford (baritone)

RS: Clyde Hart (piano), Connie Wainwright (guitar), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Shadow Wilson (drums)

Vocals: Billy Eckstine

I’ve Got A Date With Rhythm
I Stay In The Mood For You
Good Jelly Blues
- This intro will become the generic intro and outro for bebop recordings of All The Things You Are

19/04/1944

Mary Lou Williams (solo piano)

Mary’s Boogie (Mary Lou Williams)
Drag ‘Em (Mary Lou Williams)
St. Louis Blues (W. C. Handy)

17/05/1944

Auld-Hawkins-Webster Saxtet: Georgie Auld + Coleman Hawkins + Ben Webster (tenors), Charlie Shavers (trumpet), Billy Rowland (piano), Hy White (guitar), Israel Crosby (bass), Specs Powell (drums)

An interesting opportunity to compare two of the dominant swing tenor players in Hawkins and Webster. Charlie Shavers (Dizzy’s cousin) is regarded as one of the best swing trumpet players, with several anecdotes warning other trumpet players never to battle against him! This session offers the first recording of the Gillespie/Clarke composition Salt Peanuts.

Salt Peanuts (Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Clarke)
Pick-up Boys
Porgy (D. Fields, J. McHugh)
Uptown Lullaby

24/05/1944

Coleman Hawkins and his Sax Ensemble: Tab Smith (alto), Don Byas + Coleman Hawkins (tenors), Harry Carney (baritone), Jonny Guarnieri (piano), Al Lucas (bass), Sid Catlett (drums)

On The Sunny Side of the Street
- Bit of a feature for Tab Smith on alto. Powerful swing-style alto playing!
Battle of the Saxes
- All the sax players solo over this tune written over the harmonic structure of the old tune China Boy.

05/06/1944

Mary Lou Williams Septet: Dick Vance (trumpet), Vic Dickenson (trombone), Claude Green (clarinet), Don Byas (tenor), Mary Lou Williams (piano), Al Lucas (bass), Jack Parker (drums)

Man O’ Mine (Don Byas, Mary Lou Williams)
Stardust – Part 2 (H. Carmichael, arr Mary Lou Williams)
- Check out this very modern sounding arrangement! Reminds me of some of Coltrane’s arrangements of standards.
Jgon Mili Jam Session (Mary Lou Williams)
Stardust – Part 1 (H. Carmichael, arr Mary Lou Williams)
- I think we can hear some Classical influences (remember Williams was classically trained) and there’s some Ellington in there as well.

27/07/1944

Coleman Hawkins & his all stars: Coleman Hawkins (tenor +leader), Edmond Hall (clarinet), Charlie Shavers (trumpet), Tiny Grimes (guitar), Clyde Hart (piano), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Denzil Best (drums)

All The Things You Are (Jerome Kern)
- Just Hawk with the rhythm section here. Watch out for that side-slip ii-V in bar 3 (doubling up the harmonic rhythm by playing a ii-V a semi-tone above before the regular ii-V).
- Impressive bass intro from Pettiford.
Shivers (Lionel Hampton, Charlie Christian)
- Another Rhythm Changes, with a Monk-ish whole-tone bridge.
- More impressive playing from Pettiford.
Ridin’ on 52^nd Street (Coleman Hawkins)
- More or less the same harmonic structure to I Found A New Baby, with a nice intro.
- Charlie Shavers and Edmond Hall sounding very strong on these classic swing changes.

22/08/1944

Cootie Williams and His Orchestra:

Trumpets: Ermet Perry, Tommy Stevenson, George Treadwell, Cootie Williams, Lammar Wright

Trombones: Ed Burke, Ed Glover, Bob Horton

Reeds: Frank Powell + Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson (altos), Lee Pope + Sam “The Man” Taylor (tenors), Eddie DeVerteuil (bari)

RS: Bud Powell (piano), Leroy Kirkland (guitar), Carl Pruitt (bass), Sylvester “Vess” Payne (drums)

Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby (Louis Jordon, Billy Austin)
- Featuring Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson on vocals
Somebody’s Gotta Go (B. Hoggart)
- Featuring Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson on vocals
Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk)
- This is the first recording of Monk’s famous composition which has since become one of the most recorded jazz tunes. The commonly played intro was originally written by Dizzy Gillespie as part of an arrangement of I Can’t Get Started but is not yet in use. Monk wouldn’t record this until 1947.
Blue Garden Blues aka Royal Garden Blues (Spencer Williams, Clarence Williams)

15/09/1944 Studio recording for Savoy Records

Tiny Grimes Quintet ft Charlie Parker: Charlie Parker (alto), Lloyd “Tiny” Grimes (guitar + vocals), Clyde Hart (piano), Jimmy Butts (bass), Harold “Doc” West (drums)

Tiny’s Tempo
- Notice the riffs being played here – they’re much busier than the typical swing riffs from earlier years. Riffing will start to faze out in bebop music, or perhaps developed into something that would no longer resemble riffs yet still used repetition.
I’ll Always Love You Just The Same
Romance Without Finance
Red Cross

19/10/1944

Coleman Hawkins Quartet: Coleman Hawkins (tenor), Thelonious Monk (piano), Edward “Bass” Robinson (bass), and Denzil Best (drums).

This is Thelonious Monk’s first commercial recording, and we can already identify some of his trademark whole-tone runs on On The Bean and Flyin’ Hawk.

On The Bean
- Very similar changes to Whisperin, albeit in a different key
Flyin’ Hawk
Recollections
Drifting On A Reed

05/12/1944

Billy Eckstine and his Orchestra:

Trumpets: Dizzy Gillespie, Shorty McConnell, Gail Brockman, Boonie Hazel

Trombones: Taswell Baird, Chippy Outcalt, Howard Scott, Gerald Valentine

Reeds: Bill Frazier + John Jackon (altos), Gene Ammons + Dexter Gordon (tenors), Leo Parker (baritone)

RS: John Malachi (piano), Connie Wainwright (guitar), Tommy Potter (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Vocals: Billy Eckstine, Sarah Vaughan

If That’s The Way You Feel
I Want To Talk About You
Blowing The Blues Away
- Check out Dexter Gordon and Gene Ammons battling it out on tenor – they both sound incredible!
Opus X
I’ll Wait And Pray
- Featuring Sarah Vaughan. This is the singer’s first recording!
- Beatiful and haunting arrangement from Gerald Valentine
The Real Thing Happened To Me

31/12/1944 Studio recording

Sarah Vaughan: Sarah Vaughan (vocals), Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet), Aaron Sachs (clarinet), Georgie Auld (tenor), Jack Lesberg (bass), Chuck Wayne (guitar), Leonard Feather (piano), Morey Feld (drums)

Interlude aka A Night in Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespie)
Signing Off (J. Russell, L. Feather)
No Smokes Blues
- Notice the horn backings behind Vaughan – Dizzy will record this figure as a tune in its own right a couple of months later as Blue ‘N Boogie
East of the Sun (B. Bowman)

04/01/1945 Studio recording (Coffee-Gate Session!)

Clyde Hart All Stars: Henry “Rubberlegs” Williams (vocals), Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet), Charlie Parker (alto), Don Byas (tenor), James “Trummy” Young (trombone + vocals), Mike Bryan (guitar), Al Hall (bass), Gordon “Specs” Powell (drums)

Charlie Parker tells a story that singer Henry “Rubberlegs” Williams accidently drank Parker’s coffee which contained a dosage of Benzedrine – a medical amphetamine. You can hear Rubberlegs’ voice struggle to cope with the surge of dopamine he was likely experiencing on That’s The Blues. Tellingly, trombonist Trummy Young takes over the singing duties for the last four tunes of the session.

What’s The Matter Now? (Clyde Hart)
That’s The Blues (Dizzy Gillespie)

09/01/1945 Studio recording (Gillespie’s first as a leader)

Dizzy Gillespie Sextet: Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet), Don Byas (tenor), James “Trummy” Young (trombone), Clyde Hart (piano), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Irv Kluger (drums)

Good Bait (Tadd Dameron)
- First recording of this Dameron classic
Salt Peanuts (Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Clarke)
Be-Bop (Dizzy Gillespie)
- First recording of this bebop standard
I Can’t Get Started (V. Duke, I. Gershwin)
- The ending of this arrangement is where the famous introduction to Monk’s Round Midnight was taken from

January 1945

Coleman Hawkins (solo)

A forward thinking recording of solo saxophone. There are a couple of examples of solo saxophone recordings earlier than this (Gene Sedric’s 1937 recoding of Saxaphone Doodle for example).

Hawk’s Variations pts 1 & 2

09/02/1945 Studio recording

Dizzy Gillespie Sextet: Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet), Dexter Gordon (tenor), Frank Paperelli (piano), Chuck Wayne (guitar), Murray Shipinski (bass), Shelly Manne (drums)

Groovin’ High (Dizzy Gillespie)
- Based on the harmonic structure of Whispering
Blue ‘N’ Boogie (Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Paparelli)

23/02/1945

Coleman Hawkins: Coleman Hawkins (tenor), Howard McGhee (trumpet), Allan Reuss (guitar), Sir Charles Thompson (piano), Oscar Pettiford (bass) and Denzil Best (drums).

A fun session led by Hawkins. The music is in the more familiar swing idiom. Interesting to hear Howard McGee on trumpet here. He’s one of the musicians who straddled swing and bebop recordings. He sounds like a very fine swing player here, and is a helpful player to compare the more modern players of the era with. Nice to hear Allan Reuss’ guitar recorded so well.

April In Paris (Vernon Duke, E.Y. Harburg)
Rifftide (Hawkins)
- Basically Lady Be Good
Stuffy (Hawkins, Sir Charles Thompson)
Stardust (Hoagy Carmichael).

28/02/1945 Studio recording

Dizzy Gillespie Sextet: Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet), Charlie Parker (alto), Clyde Hart (piano), Remo Palmieri (guitar), Slam Stewart (bass), “Cozy” Cole (drums)

This is a landmark bebop recording considered by some to be the first commercial bebop recording, although others point to Coleman Hawkins’ session in 1944 that included Dizzy Gillespie and Max Roach.

Groovin’ High (Dizzy Gillespie)
- Although Gillespie recorded this a few weeks earlier, this one is considered the definitive recording
All The Things You Are (J. Kern, O. Hammerstein II)
Dizzy Atmosphere (Dizzy Gillespie)
- Great shout chorus after the solos!

02/03/1945

Coleman Hawkins: Coleman Hawkins (tenor), Howard McGhee (trumpet), Vic Dickinson (trombone), Allan Reuss (guitar), Sir Charles Thompson (piano), Oscar Pettiford (bass) and Denzil Best (drums).

Hollywood Stampede aka Sweet Clifford (Coleman Hawkins)
- Another Hawkins riff over a standard – this time it’s Sweet Georgia Brown. Check out the soli they play after the solos; a more sophisticated riff made up of a call (sounds just like the opening to Parker’s Ornithology) then a response. The phrasing could be called bebop, but the amount of repetition mean’s we’re not quite there yet.
Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams

09/03/1945

Coleman Hawkins: Coleman Hawkins (tenor), Howard McGhee (trumpet), Allan Reuss (guitar), Sir Charles Thompson (piano), John Simmons (bass) and Denzil Best (drums).

Bean Soup (Coleman Hawkins)
- Over the harmonic structure of Tea for Two
Too Much Of A Good Thing (Coleman Hawkins)

24/04/1945 Studio recording

Herbie Fields Band with Henry “Rubberlegs” Williams: Miles Davis (trumpet), Herbie Fields (tenor + clarinet) Teddy Brannon (piano), Leonard Gaskin (bass), Ed Nicholson (drums), Henry “Rubberlegs” Williams (vocals)

This is Miles Davis’ first recording (though he is barely featured)

Pointless Mama Blues (incorrecrly called That’s The Stuff You Gotta Watch on the Spotify playlist)

02/05/1945

Billy Eckstine & His Orchestra:

Trumpets: Gail Brockman, Boonie Hazel, Shorty McConnell, Fats Navarro

Trombones: Taswell Baird, Alfred ‘Chips’ Outcalt, Howard Scott, Gerald Valentine

Reeds: Budd Johnson + Sonny Stitt (altos), Gene Ammons + Dexter Gordon (tenors), Leo Parker (baritone)

RS: John Malachi (piano), Connie Wainwright (guitar), Tommy Potter (bass), Art Blakey (drums).

Lonesome Lover Blues
A Cottage For Sale (W. Robison, L. Conley)
I Love The Rhythm In A Riff (Billy Eckstine, Gerry Valentine)
- Some killer bebop scatting from the leader, and a nice solo from Gene Ammons
Last Night

11/05/1945 Studio recording

Dizzy Gillespie Quintet ft Sarah Vaughan: Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet), Charlie Parker (alto), Al Haig (piano), “Curly” Russell (bass), Sid Catlett (drums)

Salt Peanuts (Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Clarke)
Shaw ‘Nuff (Dizzy Gillespie)
Lover Man ((J. Davis, R. Ramirez, J. Sherman)
- Featuring Sarah Vaughan (vocals)
Hot House (Tadd Dameron)
- This tune is based on the harmonic structure of Cole Porter’s What Is This Thing Called Love and became a bit of a bebop anthem.

25/05/1945 Studio recording

Dizzy Gillespie Septet ft Sarah Vaughan: Sarah Vaughan (vocals), Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet), Charlie Parker (alto), Flip Phillips (tenor), Nat Jaffe (piano), Bill DeArango (guitar), Curly Russell (bass), Max Roach (drums)

What More Can A Woman Do (D. Babour, Peggy Lee)
I’d Rather Have A Memory Than A Dream (Jessyca Russell, Leonard Feather)
Mean To Me (F. E. Ahlert, R. Turk)

06/06/1945 Studio recording

Red Norvo Septet: Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet), Charlie Parker (alto), Flip Phillips (tenor), Red Norvo (vibraphone), Teddy Wilson (piano), Slam Stewart (bass), Specs Powell/J.C. Heard (drums)

Norvo said this of the session: “Bird and Diz were dirty words for musicians of my generation. But jazz had always gone through changes and in 1945 we were in the middle of another one. Bird and Diz were saying new things in an exciting way. I had a free hand, so I gambled”.

Congo Blues (Red Norvo or Charlie Parker or both!)
Hallelujah
Slam Slam Blues (Red Norvo)

22/06/1945 Live recording from Town Hall New York

Gillespie/Parker Quintet: Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet), Charlie Parker (alto), Al Haig (piano), “Curley” Russell (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Bebop (Dizzy Gillespie)
- Don Byas (tenor) fills in for Charlie Parker who turned up late
A Night in Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespie)
Groovin’ High (Dizzy Gillespie)
Salt Peanuts (Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Clarke)

Sid Catlett replaces Max Roach on the final two tunes

Hot House (Tad Dameron)
Fifty Second Street Theme (Thelonious Monk)
- This could be the earliest recording of this classic Monk tune.

29/06/1945 Studio recording

Mary Lou Williams solo and trio: Mary Lou Williams (piano), Al Lucas (bass), (Jack Parker (drums),

Zodiac Suite (Mary Lou Williams)
- Taurus
- Pisces
- Gemini
- Capricorn
- Sagittarius
- Aquarius
- Libra
- Virgo
- Aries
- Scorpio
- Cancer
- Leo

04/09/1945 Studio recording

“Sir” Charles Thompson Sextet: Buck Clayton (trumpet), Charlie Parker (alto), Dexter Gordon (tenor), Danny Barker (guitar), “Sir” Charles Thompson (piano), Jimmy Butts (bass), J. C. Heard (drums)

This is the only recording of Charlie Parker and Dexter Gordon together.

Takin’ Off (Charles Thompson)
If I Had You (J. Campbell, R. Connelly, T. Shapiro)
20^th Century Blues
The Street Beat (Charles Thompson)

??/09/1945

Billy Eckstine & His Orchestra:

Trumpets: Boonie Hazel, Shorty McConnell, Fats Navarro, Raymond Orr

Trombones: Walter Knox, Alfred ‘Chips’ Outcalt, Howard Scott, Gerald Valentine

Reeds: John Cobbs + Budd Johnson (altos), Gene Ammons + Arthur Simmons (tenors), Teddy Cypron (baritone)

RS: Richard Ellington (piano), Connie Wainwright (guitar), Tommy Potter (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

My Deep Blue Dream (D. Rivera, S. J. Andrews)
Prisoner Of Love (R. Columbo, C. Gaskill, L. Robin)
A Penny For Your Thoughts
It Ain’t Like That No More

??/10/1945

Billy Eckstine & His Orchestra:

Trumpets: Boonie Hazel, Shorty McConnell, Fats Navarro, Raymond Orr

Trombones: Walter Knox, Alfred ‘Chips’ Outcalt, Howard Scott, Gerald Valentine

Reeds: John Cobbs + Budd Johnson (altos), Gene Ammons + Arthur Simmons (tenors), Teddy Cypron (baritone)

RS: Richard Ellington (piano), Connie Wainwright (guitar), Tommy Potter (bass), Art Blakey (drums).

I’m In the Mood For Love (D. Fields, J. McHugh)
You Call It Madness
All I Sing Is Blues (Fred Gray)
Long Long Journey (Leonard Feather)

26/11/1945 Studio recording for Savoy

Charlie Parker’s Reboppers: Miles Davis (trumpet), Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet + piano), Charlie Parker (alto), Sadik Hakim (piano), Dillon “Curley” Russell (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Billie’s Bounce (Charlie Parker)
Now’s The Time (Charlie Parker)
Thriving On A Riff (Charlie Parker)
Ko-Ko (Charlie Parker)

03/01/1946

Billy Eckstine & His Orchestra:

Trumpets: Kenny Dorham, Boonie Hazel, Shorty McConnell, Raymond Orr

Trombones: Alfred ‘Chippy’ Outcalt, Robert Scott, Gerald Valentine

Reeds: Norris Turney + Bob ‘Junior’ Williams (altos), Gene Ammons + Arthur Simmons (tenors), Tate Houston (baritone)

RS: Richard Ellington (piano), Connie Wainwright (guitar), Bill McMahon (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

I Only Have Eyes For You (H. Warren, A. Dublin)
You’re My Everything (H. Warren, M. Dixon, J. Young)
I’ve Got To Pass Your House (L. Brown)
The Jitney Man (Earl Hines, Gerald Valentine)

28/01/1946 Live recording from ‘Jazz At The Philharmonic’ – Los Angeles

Jazz At The Philharmonic: Dizzy Gillespie + Al Killian + Howard McGhee (trumpets), Charlie Parker + Willie Smith (altos), Lester Young (tenor), Mel Powell (piano), Billy Hadnott (bass), Lee Young (drums)

Sweet Georgia Brown
Blues For Norman
I Can’t Get Started
Lady Be Good
After You’ve Gone

05/02/1946 Studio recording for Dial

Dizzy Gillespie Jazzmen: Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet), Charlie Parker (alto), Lucky Thompson (tenor), George Handy (piano), Arvin Garrison (guitar), Ray Brown (bass), Stan Levey (drums)

Diggin’ Diz (Geogre Handy)

07/02/1946 Studio recording for Dial

Dizzy Gillespie Jazzmen: Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet), Lucky Thompson (tenor), Milt Jackson (vibraphone), Al Haig (piano), Ray Brown (bass), Stan Levey (drums)

Confirmation (Charlie Parker)
- This is the debut recording of this composition. Parker was supposed to be on this session but failed to show up.
Diggin’ For Diz (George Handy)
Dynamo aka Dizzy Atmosphere (Dizzy Gillespie)
When I Grow Too Old To Dream (S. Romberg, O. Hammerstein II)
‘Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk)

??/02/1946

Billy Eckstine & His Orchestra:

Trumpets: Boonie Hazel, Shorty McConnell, Fats Navarro, Raymond Orr

Trombones: Alfred ‘Chippy’ Outcalt, Robert Scott, Gerald Valentine

Reeds: Norris Turney + Bob ‘Junior’ Williams (altos), Gene Ammons + Josh Jackson (tenors), Leo Parker (baritone)

RS: Jimmy Golden (piano), Connie Wainwright (guitar), Bill McMahon (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Blue (A. Silver, C. Kenny, N. Kenny)
Second Balcony Jump (Billy Eckstine, Gerald Valentine)
- Check out the backings behind the tenor solo. These are adapted from the 1942 Earl Hines recording of the same tune. Miles Davis’ rhythm section will use these same rhythmic hits a decade later!
Gloomy Sunday (R. Seress, S. M. Lewis)
Tell Me Pretty Baby

22/02/1946 Studio recording

Dizzy Gillespie And His Orchestra: Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet), Don Byas (tenor), Milt Jackson (vibraphone), Al Haig (piano), Bill DeArango (guitar), Ray Brown (bass), J.C. Heard (drums)

52^nd Street Theme (Thelonious Monk)
Night In Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespie)
Ol’ Man Rebop (Floyd Wilson)
Anthropology (Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie)

??/03/1946

Billy Eckstine & His Orchestra:

Trumpets: Boonie Hazel, Shorty McConnell, Fats Navarro, Raymond Orr

Trombones: Alfred ‘Chippy’ Outcalt, Robert Scott, Gerald Valentine

Reeds: Norris Turney + Bob ‘Junior’ Williams (altos), Gene Ammons + Josh Jackson (tenors), Leo Parker (baritone)

RS: Jimmy Golden (piano), Connie Wainwright (guitar), Bill McMahon (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Love Is The Thing (V. Young, N. Washington)
Without A Song (V. Youmans, E. Eliscu, B. Rose)
Cool Breeze (Tadd Dameron, Dizzy Gillespie)
- The backings behind the tenor solo are the same rhythmic hits that Dameron would use for his tune The Squirrel (famously recorded by Parker a few years later).
Don’t Take Your Love From Me (H. Nemo)

28/03/1946 Studio recording for Dial

Charlie Parker Septet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Charlie Parker(alto), Eli “Lucky” Thompson (tenor), Arvin Garrison (guitar), Michael “Dodo” Marmarosa (piano), Vic McMillan (bass), Roy Porter (drums)

Moose The Mooche (Charlie Parker)
Yardbird Suite (Charlie Parker)
Ornithology (Charlie Parker)
A Night In Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespie)
- This is the recording that features Parker’s famous solo break

31/03/1946 Live recording from ‘Streets of Paris’ (Los Angeles)

Benny Carter Orchestra: Miles Davis (trumpet), Al Grey (trombone), Hubert “Bumps” Myers (tenor), James Cannady (guitar), Sonny White (piano), Thomas Moultrie (bass), Percy Brice (drums)

Not on the Spotify playlist, but audio can be heard on this youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6Z-XFCtxuY

Just You, Just Me (R. Klages, J. Greer)
Don’t Blame Me (D. Fields, J. McHugh)
Sweet Georgia Brown (B. Bernie, M. Pinkard, K. Casey)

??/04/1946 Live radio broadcasts from NBC Studios and/or Trianon Ballroom (Hollywood, California)

Benny Carter Orchestra (probable line-up):

Trumpets: Miles Davis, Howard McGhee, Fred Trainer, Calvin Strickland, Walter Williams, Ira Pettiford, Benny Carter (doubled on alto)

Trombones: Candy Ross, Johnny Morris, Al Grey, Charley Johnson

Altos: Benny Carter (doubled on trumpet), Bob Graettinger, Joe Epps

Tenors: Harold Clark, Hubert “Bumps” Myers, Willard Brown

RS: James Cannady (guitar), Sonny White (piano), Thomas Moultrie (bass), Percy Brice (drums)

Jump Call (Benny Carter)
Just You, Just Me (R. Klages, J. Greer)

22/04/1946 Live recording from Jazz at the Philharmonic Los Angeles

Jazz At The Philharmonic: Buck Clayton (trumpet), Charlie Parker + Willie Smith (altos), Coleman Hawkins + Lester Young (tenors), Irving Ashby (guitar), Ken Kersey (piano), Billy Hadnott (bass), Buddy Rich (drums)

I Got Rhythm (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
JATP Blues (N. Shrdlu)

15/05/1946 Studio recording

Dizzy Gillespie Sextet: Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet + vocals), Sonny Stitt (alto), Milt Jackson (vibraphone), Al Haig (piano), Ray Brown (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums), Gil Fuller (vocals), Alice Roberts (vocals)

One Bass Hit, Part 1 (Gillespie/Ray Brown)
Oop Bop Sha Bam (Dizzy Gillespie)
A Handfulla Gimme (Dizzy Gillespie)
That’s Earl, Brother (Ray Brown)

May-July 1946

Dizzy Gillespie And His Orchestra:

Varied personnel as these recordings are taken from several dates during the summer of 1946. Notable members who are on some of these recordings include Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Sonny Stitt (alto), James Moody and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis (tenors), Milt Jackson (vibraphone), Thelonious Monk and John Lewis (piano), Ray Brown (double bass), Kenny Clarke (drums)

Our Delight (Tadd Dameron)
Ray’s Idea (Gill Fuller, Ray Brown)
Cool Breeze (Tadd Dameron, Dizzy Gillespie, Billy Eckstine)
One Bass Hit (Ray Brown, Dizzy Gillespie)
Groovin’ High (Dizzy Gillespie)
Second Balcony Jump (Billy Eckstine, Gerald Valentine)
‘Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk)
Oop-Bop-Sh’ Bam (Dizzy Gillespie)
The Man I Love (George Gershwin)
Things To Come (Dizzy Gillespie, Gill Fuller)
Our Delight (Tadd Dameron)
Good Dues Blues (featuring Alice Roberts on vocals)

29/07/1946 Studio recording for Dial (the infamous Lover Man session)

Charlie Parker Quintet: Howard McGhee (trumpet), Charlie Parker (alto), Jimmy Bunn (piano), Bob Kesterson (bass), Roy Porter (drums)

Max is Making Wax (Oscar Pettiford)
Lover Man (J. Davis, R. Ramirez, J. Sherman)
The Gypsy (B. Reid)
Bebop (Dizzy Gillespie)

05/10/1946 Studio recording

Billy Eckstine & His Orchestra:

Trumpets: Miles Davis, Hobart Dotson, Leonard Hawkins, King Kolax

Trombones: Walter Knox, Alfred ‘Chippy’ Outcalt, Gerald Valentine

Reeds: John Cobbs + Sonny Stitt (altos), Gene Ammons + Arthur Simmons (tenors), Cecil Payne (baritone)

RS: Linton Garner (piano), Connie Wainwright (guitar), Tommy Potter (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Oo Bop Sh’ Bam (Dizzy Gillespie)
I Love The Loveliness of You
In The Still Of The Night (C. Porter)
Jelly Jelly (Billy Eckstine)

06/10/1946 Studio recording

Billy Eckstine & His Orchestra:

Trumpets: Miles Davis, Hobart Dotson, Leonard Hawkins, King Kolax

Trombones: Walter Knox, Alfred ‘Chippy’ Outcalt, Gerald Valentine

Reeds: John Cobbs + Sonny Stitt (altos), Gene Ammons + Arthur Simmons (tenors), Cecil Payne (baritone)

RS: Linton Garner (piano), Connie Wainwright (guitar), Tommy Potter (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Strings: unknown

My Silent Love (D. Suesse, E. Heyman)
Time On My Hands
All The Things You Are (J. Kern, O. Hammerstein II)
In A Sentimental Mood (Duke Ellington, I. Mills, M. Curtis)

08/10/1946 Studio recording

Lennie Tristano Trio: Lennie Tristano (piano), Billy Bauer (guitar), Clyde Lombardi (bass)

Out On A Limb (Lennie Tristano)
I Can’t Get Started (V. Duke, I. Gershwin)
I Surrender, Dear (H. Barris, G. Clifford)
Interlude aka A Night In Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespie)
Untitled Blues

18/10/1946 Studio recording

Miles Davis All-Stars: Earl Coleman + Ann Baker (vocals), Miles Davis (trumpet), Gene Ammons (tenor), Connie Wainwright (guitar), Linton Garner (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Don’t Sing Me the Blues
Don’t Explain to Me Baby
Baby Won’t You Make Up Your Mind
I’ve Always Got The Blues

07/01/1947 Studio recording for Capitol

Illinois Jacquet All Stars:

Trumpets: Joe Newman, Fats Navarro, Miles Davis, Marion Hazel

Trombones: Gus Chapell, Fred Robinson, Ted Kelly, Dickie Wells

Woodwinds: Ray Perry + Jimmy Powell (altos), Illinois Jacquet + George “Big Nick” Nicholas (tenors), Leo Parker (baritone)

RS: Bill Doggett (piano), Al Lucas (bass), Rossiere “Shadow” Wilson (drums)

For Europeans Only (Tadd Dameron, Illinois Jacquet)
Big Dog (Illinois Jacquet)
- Leonard Feather replaces Bill Doggett on piano
You Left Me All Alone (Illinios Jacquet)
Jivin’ with Jack the Bellboy (Bill Doggett, Illinois Jacquet)

10/01/1947 Studio recoding for De Luxe Records, released by Roost in 1949

Bud Powell Trio: Bud Powell (piano), Curly Russell (bass), Max Roach (drums)

I’ll Remember April (G. de Paul, P. Johnston, D. Raye)
Indiana (J. Hanley, B. MacDonald)
Somebody Loves Me (G. Gershwin, B. MacDonald, D. G. De Sylva)
I Should Care (A. Stordahl, P. Weston, S. Cahn)
Bud’s Bubble (Bud Powell)
- This is actually Crazeology by Benny Harris
Off Minor (Thelonious Monk)
Nice Work if You Can Get It (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
Everything Happens to Me (M. Dennis, T. Adair)

19/02/1947 Studio session for Dial (Parker’s first session since release from Camarillo State Hospital

Charlie Parker Quartet: Charlie Parker (alto), Errol Garner (piano), George “Red” Callender (bass), Harold “Doc” West (drums), + Earl Coleman (voice)

This is Always (M. Gordon, H. Warren)
Dark Shadows (S. Hemry)
Bird’s Nest (Parker)
Cool Blues (Parker)

26/02/1947 Studio recording for Dial

Charlie Parker’s New Stars: Charlie Parker (alto), Howard McGhee (trumpet), Wardell Gray (tenor), Michael “Dodo” Marmarosa (piano), Barney Kessel (guitar), George “Red” Callender (bass), Don Lamond (drums)

Parker’s second session after his release from Camarillo is most likely the only time he recorded with tenor player Wardell Gray.

Relaxin’ at Camarillo (Charlie Parker)
Cheers (Howard McGhee)
Carvin’ The Bird (Charlie Parker)
Stupendous (Howard McGhee)

08/05/1947 Studio recording for Savoy

Charlie Parker All-Stars: Miles Davis (trumpet), Charlie Parker (alto), Earl “Bud” Powell (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Donna Lee (Charlie Parker)
Chasin’ the Bird (Charlie Parker)
Cheryl (Charlie Parker)
Buzzy (Charlie Parker)

June 1947

Coleman Hawkins Group: Coleman Hawkins (tenor), Miles Davis (trumpet), Kai Winding (trombone), Howard Johnson (alto), Hank Jones (piano), Curley Russell (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Isn’t it Romantic (Rogers & Hart)
- Unusual and beautiful intro from Jones on piano – sounds like some French Impressionism.
Bean-a-Re-Bop (Coleman Hawkins/Hank Jones)
- The only solo Miles takes on this session
The Way You Look Tonight (Jerome Kern)
Phantomesque (Coleman Hawkins)

14/08/1947

Miles Davis All Stars: Miles Davis (trumpet), Charlie Parker (tenor!), John Lewis (piano), Nelson Boyd (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Milestones (Miles Davis)
- Ambitious chord changes that move quickly!
Little Willie Leaps (Miles Davis)
Half Nelson (Miles Davis)
Sippin’ at Bells (miles Davis)

15/10/1947 Studio recording for Blue Note

Thelonious Monk Sextet: Idrees Sulieman (trumpet), Danny Quebec West (alto), Billy Smith (tenor), Thelonious Monk (piano), Gene Ramey (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Humph (Thelonious Monk)
Evonce (Idrees Sulieman, Ike Quebec)
Suburban Eyes (Ike Quebec)
Thelonious (Thelonous Monk)
Evonce alt take
Suburban Eyes alt take

24/10/1947 Studio recording for Blue Note

Thelonious Monk Trio: Thelonious Monk (piano), Gene Ramey (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Nice Work If You Can Get It (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
Ruby My Dear (Thelonious Monk)
Well You Needn’t (Thelonious Monk)
April in Paris (V. Duke, Y. Harburg)
Off Minor (Thelonious Monk)
Introspection (Thelonious Monk)

28/10/1947

Charlie Parker Quintet: Charlie Parker (alto), Miles Davis (trumpet), Irving “Duke” Jordon (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Dexterity (Parker)
Bongo Bop (Parker)
Dewey Square (Parker)
The Hymn (Parker)
Bird of Paradise (All the Things You Are) (Jerome Kern)
Embraceable You (George Gershwin)

04/11/1947

Charlie Parker Quintet: Charlie Parker (alto), Miles Davis (trumpet), Irving “Duke” Jordon (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Bird Feathers (Parker)
Klact-oveereds-tene (Parker)
Scrapple from the Apple (Parker)
My Old Flame (Johnson & Coslow)
Out of Nowhere (Heyman & Green)
Don’t Blame Me (Fields & McHugh)

08/11/1947 Bands for Bonds radio broadcast

Barry Ulanovand His All-Star Metronome Jazzmen: Charlie Parker (alto), Theodore “Fats” Navarro (trumpet), John La Porta (clarinet), Allen Eager (tenor), Lennie Tristano (piano), Billy Bauer (guitar), Tommy Potter (bass), Buddy Rich (drums), Sarah Vaughan (vocals)

52^nd Street Theme (Thelonious Monk)
Donna Lee (Charlie Parker)
Everything I Have is Yours (B. Lane, H. Adamson)
Fats Flats (What is this Thing Called Love)
Tea for Two (V. Youmans, I. Caesar)
Don’t Blame Me (D. Fields, J. McHugh)
Groovin’ High (Dizzy Gillespie)
Ko Ko (Charlie Parker)

21/11/1947 Studio recording for Blue Note

Thelonious Monk Quintet: George Tait (trumpet), Sahib Shihab aka Edmung Gregory (alto), Thelonious Monk (piano), Bob Paige (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

In Walked Bud (Thelonious Monk)
Monk’s Mood (Thelonious Monk)
Who Knows (Thelonious Monk)
‘Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk)
Who Knows alt take

??/12/1947 Recording for Norman Granz’ anthology The Jazz Scene

Charlie Parker Quartet: Charlie Parker (alto), Hank Jones (piano), Ray Brown (bass), Shelly Manne (drums)

The Bird (Charlie Parker)

??/12/1947 Recording for Norman Granz’ anthology The Jazz Scene

Charlie Parker with the Neil Hefty Orchestra

Repetition (Neil Hefty)

17/12/1947

Charlie Parker Sextet: Charlie Parker (alto), Miles Davis (trumpet), J. J. Johnson (trombone), Irving “Duke” Jordon (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Max Roach (drums).

Drifting On a Reed (Charlie Parker)
Quasimodo (Charlie Parker)
Charlie’s Wig (Charlie Parker)
Bongo Beep/Dexterity (Charlie Parker)
Crazeology (Benny Harris)
How Deep is the Ocean (I. Berlin)

21/12/1947

Charlie Parker Quintet: Charlie Parker (alto), Miles Davis (trumpet), Irving “Duke” Jordon (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Max Roach (drums).

Another Hair-Do (Parker)
- An interesting blues composition; Parker leaves the middle of the 12-bar melody to be improvised – challenging the well-trodden structure of the 12-bar form.
Bluebird (Parker)
Klaunstance {The Way You Look Tonight}
Bird Get’s The Worm {Lover Come Back to Me}

April 1948 Studio recording

Claude Thornhill and his Orchestra:

Trumpets: Emil Terry, Louis Mucci, Eddie Zandy

Trombones: Johnny Torick, Allan Langstaff

French Horns: Walter Weschler, Sandford ‘Sandy’ Siegelstein

Tuba: Bill Barber

Altos: Lee Konitz (+ clarinet), Danny Polo (+ clarinet)

Tenors: Myron ‘Mickey’ Folus (+ clarinet), Jerry Sanfino (+ clarinet), Gerry Mulligan (+ baritone + arranging)

RS: Claude Thornhill (piano + arranger), Barry Galbraith (guitar), Russ ‘Savakus’ Saunders (bass), Billy Exiner (drums)

Arrangers: Gil Evans, Charlie Naylor, Andy Phillips, Eddie Herzog

Anthropology
Baia
Arab Dance
Royal Garden Blues
Polka Dots And Moonbeams
Robins Nest

May 1948 Studio recording

Claude Thornhill and his Orchestra:

Trumpets: Emil Terry, Johnny Vohs, Bob Peck

Trombones: Johnny Torick, Allan Langstaff

French Horns: Albert ‘Al’ Antonucci, Sandford ‘Sandy’ Siegelstein

Tuba: Bill Barber

Altos: Lee Konitz (+ clarinet), Danny Polo (+ clarinet)

Tenors: Myron ‘Mickey’ Folus (+ clarinet), Jerry Sanfino (+ clarinet), Gerry Mulligan (+ baritone + arranging)

RS: Claude Thornhill (piano + arranger), Joe Derise (guitar), Russ ‘Savakus’ Saunders (bass), Billy Exiner (drums)

Vocals: The Snowflakes

Arrangers: Gil Evans, Charlie Naylor, Andy Phillips, Eddie Herzog

Sometimes I’m Happy

02/07/1948 Studio recording for Blue Note

Thelonious Monk Quartet: Thelonious Monk (piano), Milt Jackson (vibraphone), John Simmons (bass), Shadow Wilson (drums), Kenny “Pancho” Hagood (vocals)

All The Things You Are (J. Kern, O. Hammerstein)
I Should Care (S. Cahn, A. Stordahl, P. Weston)
Evidence (Thelonious Monk)
Misterioso (Thelonious Monk)
Epistrophy (Thelonious Monk, Kenny Clarke)
I Mean You (Thelonious Monk)

04/09/1948 live from the Royal Roost, New York

Charlie Parker Quintet: Charlie Parker (alto), Miles Davis (trumpet), Tadd Dameron (piano), Curley Russell (bass), Max Roach (drums)

52nd Street Theme (Thelonious Monk)
Koko (Charlie Parker)

04/09/1948 live from the Royal Roost, New York

Miles Davis Nonet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Mike Zwerin (trombone), Junior Collins (French horn), Bill Barber (tuba), Lee Konitz (alto), Gerry Mulligan (baritone), John Lewis (piano), Al McKibbon (bass), Max Roach (drums), Kenny Hagood (vocals)

Birth of the Cool Theme (Gil Evans)
Move (Denzil Best, arr John Lewis)
Why Do I Love You? (Kern & Hammerstein, arr John Lewis)
Godchild (George Wallington, arr Gerry Mulligan)
S’il Vous Plait (John Lewis)
Moon Dreams (Chummy MacGregor & Johnny Mercer, arr Gil Evans)
Budo aka Hallucinations (Bud Powell, Miles Davis, arr John Lewis)

18/09/1948

Darn That Dream (Jimmy Van Heusen, Eddie DeLange, arr Gerry Mulligan)
Move (Denzil Best, arr John Lewis)
Moon Dreams (Chummy MacGregor & Johnny Mercer, arr Gil Evans)
Budo aka Hallucinations (Bud Powell, Miles Davis, arr John Lewis)

18/09/1948 Studio session for Savoy

Charlie Parker All-Stars: Charlie Parker (alto), Miles Davis (trumpet), John Lewis (piano), Dillon “Curley” Russell (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Barbados (Parker)
Ah-Leu-Cha (Parker)
Constellation (Parker)
Parker’s Mood (Parker)

24/09/1948 Studio session for Savoy

Charlie Parker All-Stars: Charlie Parker (alto), Miles Davis (trumpet), John Lewis (piano), Dillon “Curley” Russell (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Perhaps (Parker)
Marmaduke (Parker)
Steeplechase (Parker)
Merry-Go-Round (Parker)

25/09/1948 live recording from the Royal Roost

Miles Davis Quintet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Lee Konitz (alto), John Lewis (piano), Curley Russell/Al McKibbon (bass), Max Roach (drums)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsuD_1O7IXc

52^nd Street Theme (Thelonious Monk)
Half Nelson (Miles Davis)
You Go to My Head (Haven Gillespie/ J. Fred Coots)
Chasin’ The Bird (Parker)

October 1948 Studio recording

Claude Thornhill and his Orchestra:

Trumpets: Johnny Napton, Johnny Carisi (+ arranger), Gene Roland (+ arranger)

Trombones: Allan Langstaff, Leon Cox

French Horns: Albert ‘Al’ Antonucci, Addison ‘Junior’ Collins

Altos: Lee Konitz, Danny Polo (+ clarinet)

Tenors: Milton ‘Brew’ Moore (+ clarinet), Mario ‘Jet’ Rollo (+ clarinet), Gerry Mulligan (+ baritone + arranging)

RS: Claude Thornhill (piano + arranger), Joe Shulman (bass), Billy Exiner (drums)

Vocals: The Snowflakes

Arrangers: Gil Evans, Charlie Naylor

I Don’t Know Why
April In Paris
September Song
Godchild
The Song Is You
To Each His Own
Elevation

11/12/1948 live at the Royal Roost

Charlie Parker All-Stars: Charlie Parker (alto), Miles Davis (trumpet), Al Haig (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Max Roach (drums).

Parker returned for a four-month stint at the Royal Roost with his quintet from December 1948 – March 1949 featuring Miles Davis, Al Haig, Tommy Potter and Max Roach. Miles would leave Parker just before Christmas after a disagreement.

Groovin’ High (Dizzy Gillespie)
Big Foot (Charlie Parker)
Ornithology (Charlie Parker & Benny Harris)
Slow Boat to China (F Loesser)

12/12/1948 live at the Royal Roost

Charlie Parker All-Stars: same personnel as above

Hot House (Tadd Dameron)
Salt Peanuts (Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Clarke)

18/12/1948 live at the Royal Roost

Charlie Parker All-Stars: same personnel as above

Chasin’ the Bird (Parker)
Out of Nowhere (Heyman & Green)
How High the Moon (Hamilton & Lewis)

Miles left the band soon after this performance, and Parker quickly replaced him with Kenny Dorham.

25/12/1948 live broadcast from the Royal Roost

Charlie Parker Quintet: Charlie Parker (alto), Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Al Haig (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Half Nelson (Miles Davis)
White Christmas (I. Berlin)
Little Willie Leaps (Miles Davis)

01/01/1949 live broadcast from the Royal Roost

Charlie Parker Quintet: Charlie Parker (alto), Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Al Haig (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Joe Harris (drums)

Jumpin’ with Symphony Sid (Lester Young) and Bebop (Dizzy Gillespie)
Slow Boat to China (F. Loesser)
Ornithology (Charlie Parker, Bennie Harris)
Groovin’ High (Dizzy Gillespie)
East of the Sun (B. Bowman)
Cheryl (Charlie Parker)

03/01/1949

Metronome All-Stars: Dizzy Gillespie + Fats Navarro + Miles Davis (trumpets), J. J. Johnson + Kai Winding (trombone), Charlie Parker (alto), Charlie Ventura (tenor), Ernie Caceres (baritone), Buddy De Franco (clarinet), Billy Bauer (guitar), Lennie Tristano (piano), Eddie Safranski (bass), Shelly Manne (drums)

Overtime (Pete Rugolo)
Victory Ball (Lennie Tristano, Billy Bauer + Charlie Parker)

11/01/1949 Studio recording for Prestige

Lennie Tristano Quintet Featuring Lee Konits: Lee Konitz (alto), Billy Bauer (guitar), Lennie Tristano (piano), Arnold Fishkin (bass), Shelly Manne (drums)

Progression (Lee Konitz)
Tautology (Lee Konitz)
Retrospection (Lennie Tristano)
Subconscious-Lee (Lee Konitz)
Judy (Lennie Tristano)

15/01/1949 Live broadcast from Royal Roost

Charlie Parker Quintet: Charlie Parker (alto), Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Al Haig (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Joe Harris (drums)

Scrapple from the Apple (Charlie Parker)
Bebop (Dizzy Gillespie)
Hot House (Dizzy Gillespie)

20/01/1949 Studio recording

Babs Gonzales And His Orchestra: Bennie Green + J. J. Johnson (trombones), Julius Watkins (French horn), Jordan Fordin (alto), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Linton Garner (piano), Art Phipps (bass), Jack “The Bear” Parker (drums), Babs Gonzales (vocals)

These are Sonny Rollins’ first commercial recordings.

Capitolizing (Babs Gonzales)
Professor Bop (Babs Gonzales)

21/01/1949 Studio recording

Miles Davis Nonet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Kai Winding (trombone), Junior Collins (French horn), Bill Barber (tuba), Lee Konitz (alto), Gerry Mulligan (baritone), Al Haig (piano), Joe Shulman (bass), Max Roach (drums).

Miles records his nonet in the studio for the first time. The band hadn’t worked together since their stint at the Royal Roost.

Jeru (Gerry Mulligan)
Move (D. Best, arr John Lewis)
Godchild (G. Wallington, arr Gerry Mulligan)
Budo (Miles Davis, Bud Powell)

22/01/1949 Live broadcast from Royal Roost

Charlie Parker Quintet: Charlie Parker (alto), Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Al Haig (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Oo Bop Sh’Bam (Dizzy Gillespie)
Scrapple from the Apple (Charlie Parker)
Salt Peanuts (Dizzy Gillespie)

29/01/1949 Live broadcast from Royal Roost

Charlie Parker Quintet: Charlie Parker (alto), Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Al Haig (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Groovin’ High (Dizzy Gillespie)
- Parker is terrible form here… my guess is some technical issue with his instrument, but we obviously cannot rule out drugs or alcohol

05/02/1949 Live broadcast from Royal Roost

Charlie Parker Quintet: Charlie Parker (alto), Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Tommy Potter (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Scrapple from the Apple (Charlie Parker)
Barbados (Charlie Parker)
Salt Peanuts (Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Clarke)

12/02/1949 Live broadcast from Royal Roost

Charlie Parker Quintet: Charlie Parker (alto), Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Al Haig (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Scrapple from the Apple (Charlie Parker)
Barbados (Charlie Parker)
Bebop (Dizzy Gillespie)

19/02/1949 Live broadcast from Royal Roost

Charlie Parker Quintet: Charlie Parker (alto), Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Al Haig (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Groovin’ High (Dizzy Gillespie)
Confirmation (Charlie Parker)
Salt Peanuts (Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Clarke)

23/02/1949 Studio recording for Norman Granz

Bud Powell Trio: Bud Powell (piano), Ray Brown (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Tempus Fugit (Bud Powell)
Celia (Bud Powell)
Cherokee (R. Noble)
I’ll Keep Loving You (Bud Powell)
Strictly Confidential (Bud Powell)
All God’s Chillun Got Rhythm (B. Kaper, G. Kahn, W. Jurmann)

26/02/1949 Live broadcast from Royal Roost

Charlie Parker Septet: Charlie Parker (alto), Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Eli “Lucky” Thompson (tenor), Milt Jackson (vibraphone), Al Haig (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Max Roach (drums), Dave Lambert + Buddy Stewart (vocals)

Half Nelson (Miles Davis)
A Night in Tuisia (Dizzy Gillespie)
Scrapple from the Apple (Charlie Parker)
Deedle (D. Lambert, B. Stewart)
What’s This (D. Lambert, B. Stewart)

04/03/1949 Studio recording for Capitol

Lennie Tristano Sextette: Lee Konitz (alto), Warne Marsh (tenor), Billy Bauer (guitar), Arnold Fishkin (bass), Harold Granowsky (drums)

Wow (Lennie Tristano)
Crosscurrent (Lennie Tristano)

05/03/1949 Live broadcast from Royal Roost

Charlie Parker Septet: Charlie Parker (alto), Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Eli “Lucky” Thomposon (tenor), Milt Jackson (vibraphone), Al Haig (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Max Roach (drums), Dave Lambert + Buddy Stewart (vocals)

Cheryl (Charlie Parker)
Anthropology (Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker)
Hurry Home (B. Bernier, R. Emmerich, J. Meyer)
Deedle (D. Lambert, B. Stewart)
Royal Roost Bop (D. Lambert, B. Stewart)
- Over All the Things You Are

12/03/1949 Live broadcast from Royal Roost

Charlie Parker Septet: Charlie Parker (alto), Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Eli “Lucky” Thomposon (tenor), Milt Jackson (vibraphone), Al Haig (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Cheryl (Charlie Parker)
Slow Boat to China (F. Loesser)
Chasin’ the Bird (Charlie Parker)

22/04/1949

Miles Davis Nonet: Miles Davis (trumpet), J. J. Johnson (trombone), Sandy Siegelstein (French horn), Bill Barber (tuba), Lee Konitz (alto), Gerry Mulligan (baritone), John Lewis (piano), Nelson Boyd (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums).

Venus de Milo (Gerry Mulligan)
Rouge (John Lewis)
Boplicity (Miles Davis, Gil Evans, arr Gil Evans)
Israel (John Carisi)

27/04/1949 Studio recording

Babs Gonzales And His Orchestra: J.J. Johnson (trombone), Alberto Socarras (flute), Don Redman (soprano), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Wynton Kelly (piano), Bruce Lawrence (bass + vocals), Roy Haynes (drums + vocals), Babs Gonzales (vocals)

Real Crazy (Babs Gonzales)
Then You’ll Be Boppin’ To (Babs Gonzales)
When Lovers They Lose (Babs Gonzales)
St. Louis Blues (W.C. Handy)

05/05/1949 Studio recording for Mercury

Charlie Parker Septet: Charlie Parker (alto), Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Tommy Turk (trombone), Al Haig (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Max Roach (drums), Carlos Vidal (congas)

Cardboard (Charlie Parker)
Visa (Charlie Parker)

5-6/05/1949 Studio recording for Mercury

Charlie Parker Quintet: Charlie Parker (alto), Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Al Haig (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Tune X – Segment (Charlie Parker)
- There’s a lot of confusion surrounding the titles from this session. This tune is generally known as Segment
Tune Y – Passport (Charlie Parker)
- This tune is different to another Parker composition of the same name.
Tune Z – Passport (Charlie Parker)
- This tune is known as Passport

Miles and Parker both went to Paris in May 1949 to play at the ‘Festival International 1949 de Jazz’. Miles was co-leading with Tadd Dameron and Parker was leading his Quintet. Other notable jazz musicians who performed at the festival include Sidney Bechet, Vic Lewis’s band (from England), Toots Thielemans Trio (from Belgium) and the Django Reinhardt Quintet (from France).

08/05/1949 live at Festival International 1949 de Paris

Miles Davis – Tadd Dameron Quintet: Miles Davis (trumpet), James Moody (tenor), Tadd Dameron (piano), Barney Spieler (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums).

Rifftide (Coleman Hawkins)
Good Bait (Tadd Dameron, Count Basie)
Don’t Blame Me (D. Fields, J. McHugh)
Lady Bird (Tadd Dameron)

The same band played several more concerts at the festival, leaving us with these recordings:

Wahoo (Tadd Dameron)
Wee / Allen’s Alley (D. Best)
Embraceable You (Gershwin)
Ornithology (Charlie Parker, Benny Harris)
All the Things You Are (J. Kern, O. Hammerstein)
Lover Man (J. Davis, R. Ramirez, J. Sherman)
The Squirrel (Tadd Dameron)

11/05/1949 Studio recording for Savoy

J. J. Johnson Quintet: J. J. Johnson (trombone), Sonny Rollins (tenor), John Lewis (piano), Gene Ramey (bass), Shadow Wilson (drums)

Audubon (Sonny Rollins)
Don’t Blame Me (J. McHugh, D. Fields)
Goof Square (Sonny Rollins)
Bee Jay (J. J. Johnson)

25/05/1949 Studio recording for Prestige

J. J. Johnson’s Boppers: Kenny Dorham (trumpet), J. J. Johnson (trombone), Sonny Rollins (tenor), John Lewis (piano), Leonard Gaskin (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Elysee (John Lewis)
Opus V (J. J. Johnson)
Hi-Lo (Sonny Rollins)
Fox Hunt (Sonny Rollins)

17/09/1949 live recording for Mercury from Carnegie Hall

Jazz at the Philharmonic: Charlie Parker (alto), Roy Eldridge (trumpet), Tommy Turk (trombone), Lester Young (tenor), Flip Phillips (tenor), Hank Jones (piano), Ray Brown (bass), Buddy Rich (drums), Ella Fitzgerald (vocals)

The Opener (N. Shrdlu)
Lester Leaps In (Lester Young)
Embraceable You (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
The Closer (N. Shrdlu)
Ow (Dizzy Gillespie)
Flyin’ Home (Bennie Goodman, Lionel Hampton)
How High the Moon (N. Hamilton, M. Lewis)
Perdido (Juan Tizol)

09/10/1949 Studio Recording for Blue Note

Bud Powell’s Modernists: Fats Navarro (trumpet), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Bud Powell (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Roy Haynes)

Bouncing with Bud (Gil Fuller, Bud Powell)
- Two alternate takes are also included
Wail (Bud Powell)
- An alternate take is also included
Dance of the Infidels (Bud Powell)
- An alternate take is also included
52^nd Street Theme (Thelonious Monk)
You Go to My Head Coots, H. Gillespie)
Ornithology (Benny Harris, Charlie Parker)

30/11/1949 Studio recording for Mercury – Charlie Parker with Strings (1950)

Charlie Parker (alto), Stan Freeman (piano), Ray Brown (bass), Buddy Rich (drums), Mitch Miller (oboe), Myor Rosen (harp), Bronislaw Gimpel + Max Hollander (violins), Frank Brieff (viola), Frank Miller (cello), Jimmy Carroll (arranger and conductor)

Just Friends (J. Klenner, S. Lewis)
Everything Happens to Me (M. Dennis, T. Adair)
April in Paris (V. Duke, E. Y. Harburg)
If I Should Lose You (L. Robin, E. Rainger)
Summertime (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin, D. Heyward)
I Didn’t Know What Time It Was (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)

18/02/1950 Live recording from St. Nicholas Arena, New York

Charlie Parker Quintet: Charlie Parker (alto), Red Rodney (trumpet), Al Haig (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Roy Haynes (drums)

Ornithology (Charlie Parker, Bennie Harris)
I Didn’t Know What Time It Was (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)
Embraceable You (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
Scrapple from the Apple (Charlie Parker)
Hot House (Tadd Dameron)
Now’s the Time (Charlie Parker)
Visa (Charlie Parker)
- Parker quotes Louis Armstrong’s opening cadenza from West End Blues
Star Eyes (D. Raye, G. DePaul, P. Johnston)
Confirmation (Charlie Parker)
Out of Nowhere (E. Heyman, J. W. Green)
I Cover The Waterfront (E. Heyman, J. W. Green)
What’s New (J. Burke, B. Haggart)
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (J. Kern, O. Harbach)

18/02/1950

Miles Davis Sextet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Stan Getz (tenor), J.J. Johnson (trombone), Tadd Dameron (piano), Gene Ramey (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Conception (George Shearing)
Ray’s Idea (Ray Brown, Gil Fuller)
That Old Black Magic (J. Mercer, H. Arlen)
Max is Making Wax (Oscar Pettiford)
Woody ‘N You (Dizzy Gillespie)

February 1950 Studio recording for Norman Granz

Bud Powell Trio: Bud Powell (piano), Curley Russell (bass), Max Roach (drums)

So Sorry Please (Bud Powell)
Get Happy (H. Arlen, T. Koehler)
Sometimes I’m Happy (V. Youmans, I. Caesar)
Sweet Georgia Brown (M. Pinkard, K. Casey)
Yesterdays (J. Kern, O. Harrbach)
April in Paris (V. Duke, E. Y. Harburg)
Body and Soul (J. Green, E. Heyman, R. Sour, F. Eyton)

09/03/1950

Miles Davis Nonet: Miles Davis (trumpet), J. J. Johnson (trombone), Gunther Schuller (French horn), Bill Barber (tuba), Lee Konitz (alto), Gerry Mulligan (baritone), John Lewis (piano), Al McKibbon (bass), Max Roach (drums), Kenny “Pancho” Hagood (vocals)

Deception (Miles Davis arrangement of Shearing’s Conception)
Rocker (Gerry Mulligan)
Moon Dreams (C. MacGregor, J. Mercer, arr Gil Evans)
Darn That Dream (E. DeLange, J. Van Heusen, arr Gerry Mulligan)

17/05/1950 Live recording from Birdland

Charlie Parker Quintet: Charlie Parker (alto), Fats Navarro (trumpet), Bud Powell (piano), Curley Russell (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

52^nd Street Theme (Thelonious Monk)
Wahoo (Tadd Dameron)
‘Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk)
This Time the Dream’s on Me (H. Arlen, J. Mercer)
Dizzy Atmosphere (Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker)
A Night in Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespie)
Move (D. Best)
The Street Beat (C. Thompson)
Out of Nowhere (E. Heyman, J. W. Green)
Ornithology (Charlie Parker, Bennie Harris)
I’ll Remember April (D. Raye, G. DePaul, P. Johnston)
Little Willie Leaps (Miles Davis)
Embraceable You (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
Cool Blues (Charlie Parker)
52^nd Street Theme (Thelonious Monk)

06/06/1950 Studio session for Mercury – Bird and Diz (1952)

Charlie Parker Quintet: Charlie Parker (alto), Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet), Thelonious Monk (piano), Dillon “Curley” Russell (bass), Buddy Rich (drums)

A reunion between Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. They hadn’t made a studio recording together for six years, and is a rare studio session for Monk who hadn’t recorded since 1948 (and who wouldn’t record again for another year). The recordings would be released on the album Bird and Diz in 1952.

Bloomdido (Charlie Parker)
My Melancholy Baby (G. Norton, E. Burnett)
Relaxing With Lee (Charlie Parker)
Leap Frog (Charlie Parker)
An Oscar For Treadwell (Charlie Parker)
Mohawk (Charlie Parker)

June-July 1950 Live recording from Café Society Downtown, New York

Charlie Parker Quintet: Charlie Parker (alto), Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Al Haig (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Roy Haynes (drums)

Just Friends (J. Klenner, S. Lewis)
April In Paris (V. Duke, E. Y. Harburg)
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)
Summertime (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin, D. Heyward)
I Cover The Waterfront (E. Heyman, J. W. Green)
Gone With The Wind (H. Magidson, A. Wrubel)
Just Friends (J. Klenner, S. Lewis)
April In Paris (V. Duke, E. Y. Harburg)

01/07/1950 Studio recording for Norman Granz

Bud Powell Trio: Bud Powell (piano), Ray Brown (bass), Buddy Rich (drums)

Tea For Two (V. Youmans, I. Caesar)
Hallelujah (V. Youmans, L. Robin, C. Grey)

Late Summer 1950 Studio recording for Mercury – Charlie Parker with Strings (1950)

Charlie Parker with Strings: Charlie Parker (alto), Joseph Singer (French horn), Edwin Brown (oboe), Sam Kaplan + Howard Kay + Harry Melnikoff + Sam Rand + Zelly Smirnoff (violins), Isadore Zir (viola), Maurice Brown (cello), Verley Mills (harp), Bernie Leighton (piano), Ray Brown (bass), Buddy Rich (drums), Joe Lipman (arranger + conductor)

Dancing in the Dark (H. Dietz, A. Schwartz)
Laura (D. Raskin, J. Mercer)
They Can’t Take That Away from Me (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
Out of Nowhere (E. Heyman, J. W. Green)
East of the Sun (B. Bowman)
Easy to Love (C. Porter)
I’m in the Mood for Love (D. Fields, J. McHugh)
I’ll Remember April (D. Raye, G. DePaul, P. Johnston)

Autumn 1950 Studio recording for Verve

All Star Jam Session: Charlie Parker (alto), Coleman Hawkins (tenor), Hank Jones (piano), Ray Brown (bass), Buddy Rich (drums)

Celebrity (Charlie Parker)
Ballade (unknown)

16/09/1950 Live recording for Verve, Carnegie Hall, New York

Charlie Parker with Strings: Charlie Parker (alto), Al Haig (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Roy Haynes (drums), Tommy Mace (oboe), Wallace McManus (harp), Teddy Blume + Sam Caplan + Stan Karpenia (violins), Dave Uchitel (viola), unknown (cello)

What is This Thing Called Love (C. Porter)
April in Paris (V. Duke, E. Y. Harburg)
Repetition (Neil Hefti)
Easy to Love (C. Porter)
Rocker (Gerry Mulligan)

20/11/1950 Live recording from Stockholm, Sweden

Charlie Parker and his Swedish All-Stars: Charlie Parker (alto), Rolf Ericsson (trumpet), Gunnar Svensson (piano), Yngve Åkerberg (bass), Jack Noren (drums)

Anthropology (Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker)
Cool Blues (Charlie Parker)
Cheers (Howard McGhee)
Lover Man (J. Davis, R. Ramirez, J. Sherman)
Stupendous (Howard McGhee)

22/11/1950 Live recording from Malmö, Sweden

Charlie Parker and his Swedish All-Stars: Charlie Parker (alto), Rolf Ericsson (trumpet), Gösta Theselius (piano), Thore Jederby (bass), Jack Noren (drums)

Anthropology (Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker)
Cheers (Howard McGhee)
Lover Man (J. Davis, R. Ramirez, J. Sherman)
Cool Blues (Charlie Parker)

24/11/1950 Live recording from Hälsingbord, Sweden

Charlie Parker and his Swedish All-Stars: Charlie Parker (alto), Rolf Ericsson (trumpet), Gösta Theselius (piano), Thore Jederby (bass), Jack Noren (drums)

Anthropology (Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker)
Scrapple from the Apple (Charlie Parker)
Embraceable You (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
Cool Blues (Charlie Parker)
Star Eyes (D. Raye, G. DePaul, P. Johnston)
All the Things You Are (J. Kern, O. Hammerstein)
Strike up the Band (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)

17/01/1951

Charlie Parker Quintet: Charlie Parker (alto), Miles Davis (trumpet), Walter Bishop Jr. (piano), Teddy Kotick (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Miles hooks up again with Charlie Parker for the first time since leaving Parker’s band. This was a very busy day for Miles. After this first session with Parker he leads his sextet on another session before playing piano for Sonny Rollins’ debut session as a leader for the Prestige label.

Au Privave (Charlie Parker)
She Rote (Charlie Parker)
K.C. Blues (Charlie Parker)
Star Eyes (D. Raye, G. DePaul, P, Johnston)

17/01/1951

Miles Davis Sextet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Bennie Green (trombone), Sonny Rollins (tenor), John Lewis (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Roy Haynes (drums).

Morpheus (John Lewis)
Down (Miles Davis)
Blue Room (R. Rogers, L. Hart)
Whispering (M. Schonberger, R. Roburn, V. Rose)

17/01/1951

Sonny Rollins Quartet: Sonny Rollins (tenor), Miles Davis (piano!), Percy Heath (bass), Roy Haynes (drums)

I Know

23/01/1951

Metronome All-Stars: Miles Davis (trumpet), Kai Winding (trombone), John La Porta (clarinet), Lee Konitz (alto), Stan Getz (tenor), Serge Chaloff (baritone), Billy Bauer (guitar), Terry Gibbs (vibraphone), George Shearing (piano), Eddie Safranski (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Early Spring (D. Burns, arranged by Ralph Burns)
Local 802 Blues (George Shearing)

February 1951 Studio solo recording for Norman Granz

Bud Powell (piano)

Parisian Thoroughfare (Bud Powell)
Oblivion (Bud Powell)
Dusk in Sandi aka Dusky ‘n’ Sandy (Bud Powell)
Hallucinations (Bud Powell)
The Fruit (Bud Powell)
Just One of Those Things (C. Porter)

11/02/1951 Live recording from Pershing Hotel Ballroom, Chicago

Charlie Parker Sextet: Charlie Parker (alto), Claude McLin (tenor), George Freeman (guitar), Chris Anderson (piano), Leroy Jackson (bass), Bruz Freeman (drums)

There’s a Small Hotel (R. Rogers, L. Hart)
These Foolish Things (H. Marvell, J. Strachey, H. Link)
Keen and Peachy/Fine and Dandy (R. Burns, S. Rogers)
Hot House (Tadd Dameron)
Swivel Hips (Claude McLin)
Goodbye (G. Jenkins)

17/02/1951 Live at Birdland (New York)

Miles Davis All-Stars: Miles Davis (trumpet), J. J. Johnson (trombone), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Kenny Drew (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Miles had several weeks at the famous jazz club Birdland in New York throughout 1951 with a sextet. Live recordings from a selection of these gigs reflect some consistency of band members, but it’s interesting to see the musicians he chose for his studio recording in October of that year.

Out of the Blue (Miles Davis)
Half Nelson (Miles Davis)
Tempus Fugit (Bud Powell)
Move (D. Best)

08/03/1951

Lee Konitz Sextet: Lee Kontiz (alto), Miles Davis, Sal Mosca (piano), Billy Bauer (guitar), Arnold Fishkin (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Miles takes part on a session with Lee Konitz. The first two tracks are by George Russell, and these are good examples of what some call ‘third stream music’ – a non-specific term referring to music that attempts to marry elements of contemporary music from the jazz and classical worlds.

Odjenar (George Russell)
Ezz-thetic (George Russell)
Hibeck (Lee Konitz)
Yesterdays (J. Kern, O. Harbach)

12/03/1951 Studio recording for Mercury

Charlie Parker Jazzers: Charlie Parker (alto), Walter Bishop Jr. (piano), Teddy Kotick (bass), Roy Haynes (drums), Luis Miranda (conga), Jose Mangual (bongo)

My Little Suede Shoes (Parker)
Un Poquito de tu Amor (R. Cervantes)
Tico Tico (A. Oliveira, J. Abreu)
Fiesta (J. Heath, C. Massey)
Why Do I Love You? (J. Kern, O. Hammerstein)

31/03/1951 Live recording from Birdland

Charlie Parker Quintet: Charlie Parker (alto), Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet), Earl “Bud” Powell, Tommy Potter (bass), Roy Haynes (drums)

Blue ‘n’ Boogie (Dizzy Gillespie)
Anthropology (Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker)
‘Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk)

01/05/1951 Studio recording for Blue Note

Bud Powell Trio: Bud Powell (piano), Curly Russell (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Un Poco Loco (Bud Powell)
- Two alternate takes are included.
  - Check out Roach’s 5/8 bell-pattern. For some reason he doesn’t do it on alternate take 1.
Over the Rainbow (Arlen, Harburg)
A Night in Tunisa (Dizzy Gilespie)
- An alternate take is included
It Could Happen to You (Burke, Van Heusen)
- An alternate take is included
Parisian Thoroughfare (Bud Powell)

02/06/1951 Live at Birdland (New York)

Miles Davis Sextet: Miles Davis (trumpet), J. J. Johnson (trombone), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Kenny Drew (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Move (D. Best)
Half Nelson (Miles Davis)
Down (Miles Davis)

23/07/1951 Studio recording for Blue Note

Thelonious Monk Quintet: Sahib Shibab (alto), Thelonious Monk (piano), Milt Jackson (vibraphone), Al McKibbon (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Four in One (Thelonious Monk)
Criss Cross (Thelonious Monk)
Eronel (Thelonious Monk, Sulieman, Sadik Hakim)
Straight No Chaser (Thelonious Monk)
Ask Me Now (Thelonious Monk)
Willow Weep for Me (A. Ronnell)

August 1951

Charlie Parker (alto), Lennie Trsitano (piano), Kenny Clarke (brushes)

All of Me (S. Simons, G. Marks) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bsp9MUjmC74

I Can’t Believe that You’re in Love with Me (C. Gaskill, J. McHugh) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyKq27PNIDc

August 1951 Studio recording

Dave Brubeck Quartet: Paul Desmond (alto), Dave Brubeck (piano), Fred Dutton (bass + bassoon), Herb Barman (drums)

Crazy Chris (Dave Brubeck)
A Foggy Day (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
Lyons Busy (Dave Brubeck)
Somebody Loves Me (G. Gershwin, B. MacDonald, B. DeSylva)

08/08/1951 Studio recording for Mercury

Charlie Parker Quintet: Charlie Parker (alto), Red Rodney (trumpet), John Lewis (piano), Ray Brown (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums)

Si Si (Charlie Parker)
Swedish Schnapps (Charlie Parker)
Back Home Blues (Charlie Parker)
Lover Man (J. Davis, R. Ramirez, J. Sherman)

24/08/1951 Studio recording for Dee Gee Records

Milt Jackson Quartet: Milt Jackson (vibraphone), John Lewis (piano), Ray Brown (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums)

This is the first of two sessions that document the beginnings of The Modern Jazz Quartet. The band would be officially incorporated on 14/01/1952 although they continued to record under Milt Jackson’s name for a short while. Ray Brown left the group after this recording to dedicate more time to working with Ella Fitzgerald. Dee Gee Records was Dizzy Gillespie’s record label.

Milt Meets Sid (Milt Jackson, Ray Brown)
D & E (Milt Jackson)
Yesterdays (J. Kern, O. Harbach)
Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea (H. Arlen, T. Koehler)

18/09/1951 Studio recording for Dee Gee

Milt Jackson Quartet: Milt Jackson (vibraphone), John Lewis (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Al Jones (drums)

Autumn Breeze (Milt Jackson)
Moving Nicely (Milt Jackson)
Round About Midnight (Thelonious Monk)
Bluesology (Milt Jackson)

21/09/1951 Studio Recording for Prestige – Mulligan Plays Mulligan (1951)

Gerry Mulligan New Stars: Jerry ‘Lloyd’ Hurwitz + Nick Travis (trumpet), Ollie Wilson (valve trombone), Allen Eager (tenor), Gerry Mulligan + Max McElroy (baritone), George Wallington (piano), Phil Leshin (bass), Walter Bolden (drums), Gail Madden (maracas)

Funhouse
Ide’s Side
Roundhouse
Kaper
Bweebida Bobbida
Mullenium
Mulligan’s Too

29/09/1951 Live at Birdland (New York)

Miles Davis Sextet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis (tenor), George “Big Nick” Nicholas (tenor), Billy Taylor (piano), Charles Mingus (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Move (D. Best)
The Squirrel (Tadd Dameron)
Lady Bird (Tadd Dameron)

05/10/1951 Studio Recording for Prestige

Miles Davis Sextet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Jackie McLean (alto), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Walter Bishop Jr. (piano), Tommy Potter (Bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Miles led a sextet for his first studio recordings for the Prestige label. This was the first time he had recorded using a new development in the recording industry called microgroove technology. This allowed for many more grooves to be carved into an LP, thus increasing the amount of music that could be captured on a single record. A selection of these recordings was released as Miles’ first album: Prestige released The New Sounds later in 1951 on the new 10” LP. Tracks not released on this first album were released on later albums with Prestige (details below).

Conception (Geogre Shearing) – The New Sounds
Out of the Blue (Miles Davis) – Blue Period
Denial (Miles Davis) – Dig
Blueing (Miles Davis) – Blue Period
Dig (Jackie McLean) – The New Sounds
My Old Flame (A. Johnston, S. Coslow) – The New Sounds
It’s Only a Paper Moon (H. Arlen, B. Rose, E. Y. Harburg) – The New Sounds

November 1951 Studio recording

Dave Brubeck Quartet: Paul Desmond (alto), Dave Brubeck (piano), Wyatt Ruther (bass), Herb Barman (drums)

At A Perfume Counter (J. Burke, E. Leslie)
Mam’selle
Me And My Shadow (A. Jolson, B. Rose, D. Dreyer)
Frenesi (A. Dominguez)

17/12/1951 Studio recording for Prestige – Sonny Rollins with the Modern Jazz Quartet (1956)

Sonny Rollins Quartet: Sonny Rollins (tenor), Kenny Drew (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Time On My Hands (H. Adamson, M. Gordon, V. Youmans)
Mambo Bounce (Sonny Rollins)
This Love Of Mine (S. Parker, H. W. Sanicola Jr, Frank Sinatra)
Shadrack (R. MacGimsey)
Slow Boat To China (F. Loesser)
With A Song In My Heart (L. Hart, R. Rodgers)
Scoops (Sonny Rollins)
Newk’s Fadeaway (Sonny Rollins)

22-23/01/1952 Studio recording for Mercury

Charlie Parker with Strings: Charlie Parker (alto), Chris Griffin + Al Porcino + Bernie Privin (trumpets), Will Bradley + Bill Harris (trombones), Nuncio “Toots” Mondello + Murray Williams (altos), Hank Ross + Art Drelinger (tenors), Stanley Webb (baritone), Verley Mills (harp), Lou Stein (piano), Art Ryerson (guitar), Bob Haggart (bass), Don Lamond (drums), unknown strings + woodwinds

Temptation (A. Freed, N. H. Brown)
Autumn in New York (V. Duke)
Lover (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)
Stella by Starlight (N. Washington, V. Young)

23/01/1952 Studio recording for Mercury

Charlie Parker Septet: Charlie Parker (alto), Benny Harris (trumpet), Walter Bishop Jr. (piano), Teddy Kotick (bass), Max Roach (drums), Jose Mangual (bongo), Luis Miranda (conga)

Mama Inez (L. W. Gilbert, E. Grenet)
La Cucaracha (trad)
Estrellita (V. Picone, A. Venosa)
Begin the Beguine (C. Porter)
La Paloma (trad)

24/02/1952 TV Broadcast

Dizzy and Bird: Charlie Parker (alto), Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet), Dick Hyman (piano), Sandy Block (bass), Charlie Smith (drums)

Hot House (Tadd Dameron)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejlsnuKyJEA&list=RDejlsnuKyJEA&index=1

25/03/1952 Studio recording for Mercury

Charlie Parker and Big Band: Charlie Parker (alto), Jimmy Maxwell + Carl Poole + Al Porcino +Bernie (trumpets), Bill Harris + Lou McGarity + Bart Varsalona (trombones), Harry Terrill _ Murray Williams (altos), Flip Phillips + Hank Ross (tenors), Danny Bank (bass trombone), Oscer Peterson (piano), Freddie Green (guitar), Ray Brown (bass), Don Lamond (drums), Joe Lipman (arranger + conducter)

Night and Day (C. Porter)
Almost Like Being in Love (A. J. Lerner, F. Loewe)
I Can’t Get Started (V. Duke, I. Gershwin)
What is This Thing Called Love (C. Porter)

Spring 1952 Live at the Barrel Club, St. Louis

Miles Davis w/ Jimmy Forrest Quintet: Jimmy Forrest (tenor + vox), Miles Davis (trumpet), Charles Fox (piano), Johnny Mixon (bass), Oscar Oldham (drums), unknown (congas)

Miles was increasingly struggling with his heroin addiction, and temporarily left New York to try and quit. Sometime in spring 1952 he featured with the Jimmy Forrest Quintet, and fortunately a gig at the barrel Blub in St. Louis was recorded. Miles is in very fine form.

Ray’s Idea (Ray Brown, W. G. Fuller)
A Night in Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespie)
Wee Dot (J. J. Johnson)
What’s New? (J. Burke, B. Haggart)
Wahoo (called Perdido on the playlist) (Tadd Dameron)
All The Things You Are (J. Kern, O. Hammerstein)
Our Delight (Tadd Dameron)
Lady Bird (Tadd Dameron)
Ow (incorrectly called Oh Lady Be Good on the playlist) (Dizzy Gillespie)

09/05/1952 Studio recording for Blue Note (Young Man with a Horn)

Miles Davis Sextet: Miles Davis (trumpet), J. J. Johnson (trombone), Jackie McLean (alto), Gil Coggins (piano), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums)

Miles returned to New York later this year, and played two nights at Birdland with pianist Beryl Booker’s band on the 25^th and 26^th April 1952. He then had a week leading a sextet at Birdland at the start of May before leading a sextet studio recording for Blue Note Records.

Dear Old Stockholm (traditional)
Max is Making Wax (released as Chance It) (Oscar Pettiford)
Dig (released as Donna) (Jackie McLean)
Woody ‘N’ You (Dizzy Gillespie)
Yesterdays (J. Kern, O Harbach)
How Deep is the Ocean (I. Berlin)

30/05/1952 Studio recording for Blue Note

Thelonious Monk Sextet: Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Lou Donaldson (alto), Lucky Thomposon (tenor), Thelonious Monk (piano), Nelson Boyd (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Skippy (Thelonious Monk)
Hornin’ In (Thelonious Monk)
Sixteen (Thelonious Monk)
Carolina Moon (B. Davis, J. Burke)
Let’s Cool One (Thelonious Monk)
I’ll Follow You (F. E. Ahlert, R. Turk)

16/06/1952 Live recording from Trade Winds Club, California

Harry Babasin All-Stars: Charlie Parker (alto), Sonny Criss (alto), Chet Baker (trumpet), Al Haig (piano), Russ Freeman (piano), Harry Babasin (bass), Lawrence Marable (drums)

The Squirrel (Tadd Dameron)
Irresistible You (D. Raye, G. DePaul)
Indiana (J. F. Hanley, B. McDonald)
Liza (G. Gershwin, G. Kahn, I. Gershwin)

17/06/1952 Studio recording for Mercury

All-Star Band: Charlie Parker + Johnny Hodges + Benny Carter (altos), Flip Philips + Ben Webster (tenors), Charlie Shavers (trumpet), Oscar Peterson (piano), Barney Kessel (guitar), Ray Brown (bass), J. C. Heard (drums)

Jam Blues
What is This Thing Called Love (C. Porter)
Medley:
- All The Things You Are (J. Kern, O. Hammerstein)
- Dearly Beloved (J. Mercer, J. Kern)
- The Nearness of You (N. Washington, H. Carmichael)
- I’ll Get By (R. Turk, F. Ahlert)
- Everything Happens to Me (M. Dennis, T. Adair)
- The Man I Love (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
- What’s New? (J. Burke, B. Haggart)
- Someone to Watch over Me (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
- Isn’t it Romantic (R. Rodgers, J. Hart)
Funky Blues (Johnny Hodges)

September 1952 Studio recording for Fantasy Records released on Dave Brubeck Quartet (1952)

Dave Brubeck Quartet: Paul Desmond (alto), Wyatt “Bull” Ruther (bass), Lloyd Davis/Herb Barman (drums)

This Can’t Be Love R. Rodgers (L. Hart)
Look for the Silver Lining (J. Kern, A. Caldwell)
My Romance (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)
I May Be Wrong
- Not issued on this album
Just One of Those Things (C. Porter)
Stardust (H. Carmichael, M. Parish)
Lulu’s Back in Town (A. Dublin, H. Warren)
On A Little Street In Singapore (P. DeRose, B. Hill)
- Not issued on this album
Alice In Wonderland (B. Hilliard, S. Fain)
All the Things You Are (J. Kern, O. Hammerstein II)

26/09/1952 Live recording from Rockland Palace Ballroom, New York

Charlie Parker and strings: Charlie Parker (alto), Walter Bishop Jr. (piano), Mundell Lowe (guitar), Teddy Kotick (bass), Max Roach (drums), unknown woodwind + strings

Rocker (Gerry Mulligan)
Moose the Mooche (Charlie Parker)
Just Friends (J. Klenner, S. Lewis)
My Little Suede Shoes (Charlie Parker)
I’ll Remember April (D. Raye, G. DePaul, P. Johnsnton)
Sly Mongoose (J. Edwards)
Laura (D. Raskin, J. Mercer)
Star Eyes (D. Raye, G. DePaul, P. Johnston)
This Time the Dream’s on Me (H. Arlen, J. Mercer)
Easy to Love (C. Porter)
Cool Blues (Charlie Parker)
What is This Thing Called Love (C. Porter)
I Didn’t Know What Time It Was (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)
Repetition (Neil Hefty)
Lester Leaps In (Lester Young)
East of the Sun (B. Bowman)
April in Paris (V. Duke, E. Y. Harburg)
Out of Nowhere (E. Heyman, J. W. Green)
Rocker (Gerry Mulligan)

15/10/1952 Studio recording for Prestige released on Thelonious (1953)

Thelonious Monk Trio: Thelonious Monk (piano), Gary Mapp (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Little Rootie Tootie (Thelonious Monk)
Sweet and Lovely (G. Arnheim, J. LeMare, H. Tobias)
Bye-Ya (Thelonious Monk)
Monk’s Dream (Thelonious Monk)

15+16/10/1952 Studio recording for Pacific Jazz – Gerry Mulligan Quartet (1952)

Gerry Mulligan Quartet: Chet Baker (trumpet), Gerry Mulligan (baritone), Bob Whitlock (bass), Chico Hamilton (drums)

Frenesi (Alberto Dominguez)
Freeway (Chet Baker)
Soft Shoe (Gerry Mulligan)
Aren’t You Glad You’re You (J. Van Heusen, J. Burke)
Walkin’ Shoes (Gerry Mulligan)
Nights at the Turntable (Gerry Mulligan)

18/12/1952 Studio recording for Prestige released on Thelonious (1953)

Thelonious Monk Trio: Thelonious Monk (piano), Gary Mapp (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Trinkle Trinkle (Thelonious Monk)
These Foolish Things (H. Link, H. Marvell, J. Strachey)
Bemsha Swing (Thelonious Monk, Denzil Best)
Reflections (Thelonious Monk)

22/12/1952 Studio recording for Prestige

Milt Jackson & The Modern Jazz Quartet: Milt Jackson (vibraphone), John Lewis (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums)

Although the band was now officially ‘The Modern Jazz Quartet’, the CEO of Prestige insisted on highlighting Milt Jackson’s name.

All The Things You Are (J. Kern, O. Hammerstein)
La Ronde (John Lewis)
Vendome (John Lewis)
Rose Of The Rio Grande (E. Leslie, H. Warren, R. Gormon)

30/12/1952 Studio recording for Mercury

Charlie Parker Quartet: Charlie Parker (alto), Hank Jones (piano), Teddy Kotick (bass), Max Roach (drums)

The Song is You (J. Kern, O. Hammerstein)
Laird Baird (Charlie Parker)
Kim (Charlie Parker)
Cosmic Rays (Charlie Parker)

23/01/1953 Live recording from The Haig (Hollywood, California) – Lee Konitz Plays with the Gerry Mulligan Quartet aka Konitz Meets Mulligan (1957)

Gerry Mulligan Quartet ft Lee Konitz: Chet Baker (trumpet), Lee Konitz (alto), Gerry Mulligan (baritone), Carson Smith (bass), Larry Bunker (drums)

Too Marvelous For Words (R. A. Whiting, J. Mercer)
Lover Man (J. Davis, R. Ramirez, J. Sherman)
I’ll Remember April (G. de Paul, P. Johnston, D. Raye)
These Foolish Things (J. Strachey, H. Marvell, H. Link)
All The Things You Are (J. Kern, O. Hammerstein II)
Bernie’s Tune (B. Miller, J. Leiber, M. Stoller)

29/01/1953 Studio recording for Gene Norman / Captilol – Gene Norman Presents the Original Gerry Mullgan Tentet and Quartet (1954)

Gerry Mulligan Tentet: Chet Baker + Pete Candoli (trumpets), Bob Enevoldsen (valve trombone), John Graas (French horn), Ray Siegel (tuba), Bud Shank (alto), Don Davidson (baritone), Gerry Mulligan (baritone + piano), Joe Mondragon (bass), Chico Hamilton (drums)

Westwood Walk (Gerry Mulligan)
Walkin’ Shoes (Gerry Mulligan)
Rocker (Gerry Mulligan)
A Ballad (Gerry Mulligan)

30/01/1953 Studio recording for Pacific – Lee Konitz Plays with the Gerry Mulligan Quartet aka Konitz Meets Mulligan (1957)

Gerry Mulligan Quartet ft Lee Konitz: Chet Baker (trumpet), Lee Konitz (alto), Gerry Mulligan (baritone), Carson Smith (bass), Larry Bunker (drums)

Almost Like Being in Love (F. Loewe, A. J. Lerner)
Sextet (Gerry Mulligan)
Broadway (B. Bird, T. McRae, H. J. Wood)

30/01/1953 Studio recording for Prestige

Miles Davis Sextet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Charlie Parker (tenor), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Walter Bishop Jr. (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Philly Joe Jones (drums)

Miles was offered a new contract with Prestige. Both Parker and Rollins were booked for the recording and both played tenor sax. Parker was under an exclusive contract with Mercury Records so is listed under his pseudonym ‘Charlie Chan’. He was exceptionally drunk on the session which limited the number of tunes the band were able to record. Philly Joe Jones would later become the drummer for one of Miles’ most famous bands, and this was his first recording with the trumpet player.

Compulsion (Miles Davis)
The Serpent’s Tooth takes 1&2 (Miles Davis)
Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk)

31/01/1953 Studio recording for Gene Norman / Captilol – Gene Norman Presents the Original Gerry Mullgan Tentet and Quartet (1954)

Simbah (Gerry Mulligan)
Takin’ A Chance On Love (V. Duke, T. Fetter, J. La Touche)
Flash (Gerry Mulligan)
Ontet (Gerry Mulligan)

01/02/1953 Studio recording for Pacific – Lee Konitz Plays with the Gerry Mulligan Quartet aka Konitz Meets Mulligan (1957)

Gerry Mulligan Quartet ft Lee Konitz: Chet Baker (trumpet), Lee Konitz (alto), Gerry Mulligan (baritone), Carson Smith (bass), Larry Bunker (drums)

I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me (J. McHugh, C. Gaskill)
Lady Be Good (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
Lady Be Good alt take (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)

19/02/1953 Studio recording for Prestige

Miles Davis Septet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Al Cohn (tenor), Zoot Sims (tenor), Sonny Truitt (trombone), John Lewis (piano), Leonard Gaskin (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums)

After the previous, somewhat disastrous session, Miles next session for Prestige saw him in a changed format. All the tunes were written and arranged by tenor player and composer/arranger Al Cohn, who had come to prominence playing clarinet with Woody Herman’s band along with fellow tenor player Zoot Sims with whom he forged a strong musical partnership. There seems to have been a desire to return to a more arrangement-focused style of jazz reminiscent of the nonet material. There are suggestions that the label influenced the choice of musicians and music for this next recording. The subsequent recordings were released on Prestige later in 1953 as the album The Compositions of Al Cohn.

Tasty Pudding (Al Cohn)
Willie the Wailer (Al Cohn)
Floppy (Al Cohn)
For Adults Only (Al Cohn)

21-22/02/1953 Live recording from Howard Theatre, Washington DC

Charlie Parker (alto), Jack Holliday/Terry Swope (piano), Franklin Skeete (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Ornithology (Charlie Parker, Benny Harris)
Out of Nowhere (E. Heyman, J. W. Green)
Cool Blues (Charlie Parker)
Anthropology (Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker)

22/02/1953 Live recording from Club Kavakos, Washington DC

Charlie Parker w/ Big Band: Charlie Parker (alto), Ed Leddy + Marky Markowitz + Charlie Walp + Bob Carey (trumpets), Earl Swope + Rob Swope + Dan Spiker (trombones), Jim Riley (alto), Jim Parker _ Angelo Tompros + Ben Lary (tenors), Jack Nimitz (baritone), Jack Holliday (piano), Merton Oliver (bass), Joe Theimer (drums)

Fine and Dandy (P. James, K. Swift)
These Foolish Things (H. Marvell, J. Strachey, H. Link)
Light Green (J. Lewis)
Thou Swell (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)
Willis (B. Potts)
Don’t Blame Me (D. Fields, J. McHugh)
Something to Remember You By (H. Dietz, A. Schwartz)
Roundhouse (J. Lewis)

02/03/1953 Live recording from Oberlin College (Ohio) for Fantasy Records, released on Jazz at Oberlin (1953)

Dave Brubeck Quartet: Paul Desmond (alto), Dave Brubeck (piano), Ron Crotty (bass), Lloyd Davis (drums)

These Foolish Things (H. Marvell, J. Strachey, H. Link)
Perdido (Juan Tizol)
Stardust (H. Carmichael), M. Parish)
The Way You Look Tonight (J. Kern, D. Fields)
How High the Moon (N. Hamilton, M. Lewis)

10/03/1953 Live radio broadcast from Storyville, Boston

Charlie Parker Quartet: Charlie Parker (alto), William “Red” Garland (piano), Bernie Griggs (bass), Roy Haynes (drums)

Moose the Mooche (Charlie Parker)
I’ll Walk Alone (S. Cahn, J. Styne)
Ornithology (Charlie Parker, Benny Harris)
Out of Nowhere (E. Heyman, J. W. Green)

05/04/1953 Live recording from Club Kavakos, Washington DC

Bud Powell Trio: Bud Powell (piano), Charles Mingus (bass), Roy Haynes (drums)

I Want To Be Happy (I. Caesar, V. Youmans)
Somebody Loves Me (G. Gershwin, B. MacDonald, B. DeSylva)
Nice Work If You Can Get It (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
Salt Peanuts (Dizzy Gillepsie)
Conception (George Shearing)
Lullaby Of Birdland (George Shearing)
Little Willie Leaps (Miles Davis)
Hallelujah aka Jubilee (V. Youmans)
Lullaby Of Birdland (George Shearing)
Sure Thing (Bud Powell)
Woody ‘n You (Dizzy Gillespie)

20/04/1953 Studio recording for Blue Note

Miles Davis Sextet: Miles Davis (trumpet), J. J. Johnson (trombone), Jimmy Heath (tenor), Gil Coggins (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Kelo (J. J. Johnson)
Enigma (J. J. Johnson)
Ray’s Idea (Ray Brown, W. G. Fuller)
Tempus Fugit (Bud Powell)
C.T.A. (Jimmy Heath)
I Waited for You (W. G. Fuller)

27/04/1953 Studio recording for Pacific – Gerry Mulligan Quartet Vol 2 (1953)

Gerry Mulligan Quartet: Chet Baker (trumpet), Gerry Mulligan (baritone), Carson Smith (bass), Larry Bunker (drums)

Love Me Or Leave Me (W. Donaldson, G. Kahn)
- + alt take
Swinghouse (Gerry Mulligan)
Jeru (Gerry Mulligan)
Utter Chaos #2 (Gerry Mulligan)
- Not released on original 10” LP

29/04/1953 Studio recording for Pacific – Gerry Mulligan Quartet Vol 2 (1953)

Gerry Mulligan Quartet: Chet Baker (trumpet), Gerry Mulligan (baritone), Carson Smith (bass), Larry Bunker (drums)

Darn That Dream (J. Van Heusen, E. DeLange)
- + alt take
I May Be Wrong (H. Sullivan, H. Ruskin)
I’m Beginning To See The Light (Duke Ellington, Don George, Johnny Hodges, Harry James)
The Nearness Of You (H. Carmichael, N. Washington)
Tea For Two (V. Youmans, I. Caesar)

07/05/1953 Studio recording for Gene Norman / Captilol – Gene Norman Presents the Original Gerry Mullgan Tentet and Quartet (1954)

Gerry Mulligan Quartet: Chet Baker (trumpet), Gerry Mulligan (baritone), Carson Smith (bass), Larry Bunker (drums)

Varsity Drag (R. Henderson, L. Brown, B. DeSylva)
Speak Low (K. Weill, O. Nash)
Half Nelson (Miles Davis)
Lady Bird (Tadd Dameron)
Love Me Or Leave Me (W. Donaldson, G. Kahn)
Swing House (Gerry Mulligan)

15/05/1953 Live recording from Massey Hall, Toronto

Quintet of the Year: Charlie Parker (alto), Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet), Earl “Bud” Powell (piano), Charles Mingus (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Perdido (Juan Tizol)
Salt Peanuts (Dizzy Gillespie)
All The Things You Are (J. Kern, O. Hammerstein)
52^nd Street Theme (Thelonious Monk)
Drum Conversation (Max Roach)
Cherokee (Ray Noble)
Embraceable You (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
Hallelujah (V. Youmans)
Sure Thing (Bud Powell)
Lullaby of Birdland (George Shearing)
I’ve Got You Under My Skin(C. Porter)
Wee (D. Best)
Hot House (Tadd Dameron)
A Night in Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespie)

19/05/1953 Studio recording for Prestige

Miles Davis Quartet: Miles Davis (trumpet), John Lewis (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Max Roach (drums), *Charles Mingus (piano on Smooch)

This session for Prestige was as a quartet – a rare setting for Miles. Apparently Kenny Clarke was supposed to be on drums but he failed to show up. The subsequent four tracks would make up the first side of the album ‘Miles Davis Quartet’ released by Prestige in 1954.

When Lights Are Low (B. Carter, C. Williams)
Tune Up (Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson)
Miles Ahead (Miles Davis, based on the old Milestones)
Smooch (Miles Davis, Charles Mingus)
- Mingus plays piano as John Lewis has to leave the session for an emergency

20/05/1953 Live recording from The Haig (Los Angeles) for Pacific

Gerry Mulligan Quartet: Chet Baker (trumpet), Gerry Mulligan (baritone), Carson Smith (bass), Larry Bunker (drums)

This was the last recording Mulligan participated on before being arrested on narcotics charges whereupon he spent six months in prison. This incarceration brought an end to the Mulligan/Baker quartet as a regular working band, and Baker went on to enjoy a successful solo career though he too was blighted by his addiction to heroin.

Five Brothers (Gerry Mulligan)
I Can’t Get Started (V. Duke, I. Gershwin)
Ide’s Side (Gerry Mulligan)
Funhouse (Gerry Mulligan)
My Funny Valentine (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)

25/05/1953 Studio recording for Mercury

Charlie Parker with Strings: Charlie Parker (alto), Tony Aless (piano), Charles Mingus (bass), Max Roach (drums), Junior Collins (French horn), Hal McKusick (clarinet), Tommy Mace (oboe), Manny Thaler (bassoon), Dave Lambert Singers (vocals), Dave Lambert (arranger), Gil Evans (arranger + conductor)

In the Still of the Night (C. Porter)
Old Folks (D. L. Hill, W. Robison)
If I Love Again (J. Murray, B. Oakland)

May/June 1953 Live radio broadcast from Birdland

Charlie Parker Quartet: Charlie Parker (alto), Earl “Bud” Powell (piano), Charles Mingus (bass), Arthur Taylor (drums)

Dance of the Infidels (Bud Powell)

09/06/1953 Studio recording for Blue Note

Lou Donaldson/Clifford Brown Quintet: Clifford Brown (trumpet), Lou Donaldson (alto), Elmo Hope (piano), Percy Heath (bass),“Philly” Joe Jones (drums)

Carvin’ The Rock (Elmo Hope, Sonny Rollins)
You Go To My Head (J. F. Coots, H. Gillespie)
De-Dah (Elmo Hope)
Brownie Speaks (Cliford Brown)
Cookin’ (Lou Donaldson)
Bellarosa (Elmo Hope)

25/06/1953 Studio recording for Prestige released on the 10” Modern Jazz Quartet (1953) and 12” Django (1956)

The Modern Jazz Quartet: Milt Jackson (vibraphone), John Lewis (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums)

The Queen’s Fancy (John Lewis)
Delaunay’s Dilemma (John Lewis)
Autumn In New York (V. Duke)
But Not For Me (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)

30/07/1953 Studio recording for Mercury

Charlie Parker Quartet: Charlie Parker (alto), Al Haig (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Chi-Chi (Charlie Parker)
I Remember You (J. Mercer, V. Schertzinger)
Now’s the Time (Charlie Parker)
Confirmation (Charlie Parker)

14/08/1953 Studio recording for Blue Note

Bud Powell Trio: Bud Powell (piano), George Duvivier (bass), Art Taylor (drums)

Autumn In New York (Vernon Duke)
Reets And I (Benny Harris)
Sure Thing (Bud Powell)
Collard Greens And Black-Eyes Peas aka Blues in the Closet (Oscar Pettiford)
Polka Dots and Moonbeams (J. Van Heusen, J. Burke)
I Want to Be Happy (V. Youmans, I. Caesar)
Audrey (Bud Powell)
Glass Enclosure (Bud Powell)

28/08/1953 Studio recording for Blue Note

Clifford Brown Sextet: Clifford Brown (trumpet), Gigi Gryce (alto + flute), Charlie Rouse (tenor), John Lewis (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Wail Bait (Quincy Jones)
Hymn of the Orient (Gigi Gryce)
Brownie Eyes (Quincy Jones)
Cherokee (Ray Noble)
Easy Living (R. Rainger, L. Robin)
Minor Mood (Clifford Brown)

September 1953 Studio recording for Roost

Bud Powell Trio: Bud Powell (piano), George Duvivier (bass), Art Taylor (drums)

Embraceable You (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
Burt Covers Bud aka Bean and the Boys (Coleman Hawkins)
My Heart Stood Still (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)
You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To (C. Porter)
Bag’s Groove (Milt Jackson)
My Devotion (R. Hillman, J. Napton)
Stella by Starlight (Victor Young)
Woody ‘n You (Dizzy Gillespie)

13/09/1953 Live at the Lighthouse Café

Miles Davis w/ Lighthouse All Stars: Miles Davis + Rolf Ericson (trumpet), Bud Shank (alto and baritone), Bob Cooper (tenor), Lorraine Geller (piano), Howard Rumsey (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Infinity Promenade (S. Rogers)
‘Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk)
A Night in Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespie)

22/09/1953 Live radio broadcast from Storyville, Boston

Charlie Parker All-Stars: Charlie Parker (alto), Herb Pomeroy (trumpet), Sir Charles Thompson (piano), Jimmy Woode (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums)

Now’s the Time (Charlie Parker)
Don’t Blame Me (D. Fields, J. McHugh)
Dancing on the Ceiling (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)
Cool Blues (Charlie Parker)
Groovin’ High (Dizzy Gillespie)

07/10/1953 Studio recording for Prestige released on Sonny Rollins With The Modern Jazz Quartet (1956)

Modern Jazz Quartet ft Sonny Rollins: Sonny Rollins (tenor), Milt Jackson (vibraphone), John Lewis (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums)

In A Sentimental Mood (Duke Ellington, M. Kurtz, I. Mills)
The Stopper (Sonny Rollins)
Almost Like Being In Love (A. J. Lerner, F. Loewe)
No Moe (Sonny Rollins)

13/11/1953 Studio recording for Prestige released on Thelonious Monk Quintet Blows for LP (featuring Sonny Rollins) (1954)

Thelonious Monk Quintet: Sonny Rollins (tenor), Julius Watkins (French horn), Thelonious Monk (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Willie Jones (drums)

Friday the 13^th (Thelonious Monk)
Let’s Call This (Thelonious Monk)
Think of One (Thelonious Monk)

14/12/1953 Live recoding from College of the Pacific (Stockton, California) for Fantasy Records, released on Jazz at the College of the Pacific (1954)

Dave Brubeck Quartet: Paul Desmond (alto), Ron Crotty (bass), Joe Dodge (drums)

All the Things You Are (J. Kern, O. Hammerstein II)
Laura (D. Raksin, J. Mercer)
Lullaby in Rhythm (W. Hirsch, Benny Goodman)
I’ll Never Smile Again (R. Lowe)
I Remember You (V. Schertzinger, J. Mercer)
For All We Know (J. F. Coots, S. M. Lewis)

04-10/01/1954 Live radio broadcast from the Hi-Hat Club, Boston

Charlie Parker Quintet: Charlie Parker (alto), Herbie Williams (trumpet), Rollins Griffith (piano), Jimmy Woode (bass), Marquis Foster (drums)

Now’s The Time (Charlie Parker)
Ornithology (Charlie Parker, Benny Harris)
My Little Suede Shoes (Charlie Parker)
Groovin’ High (Dizzy Gillespie)
Cheryl (Charlie Parker)
Ornithology (Charlie Parker, Benny Harris)

20/01/1954 Studio recording for New Jazz – Early Art (1962)

Art Farmer Quintet: Art Farmer (trumpet), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Horace Silver (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums)

Soft Shoe (Art Farmer)
Confab In Tempo (Art Farmer)
I’ll Take Romance (O. Hammerstein, B. Oakland)

24/01/1954 Live radio broadcast from the Hi-Hat Club, Boston

Charlie Parker Quintet: Charlie Parker (alto), Herbie Williams (trumpet), Rollins Griffith (piano), Jimmy Woode (bass), Marquis Foster (drums)

Cool Blues (Charlie Parker)
My Little Suede Shoes (Charlie Parker)
Ornithology (Charlie Parker, Benny Harris)
Out of Nowhere (E. Heyman, J. W. Green)
Jumpin’ with Symphony Sid (Lester Young)

21/02/1954 Live recording for Blue Note from Birdland (New York)

Art Blakey Quintet: Clifford Brown (trumpet), Lou Donaldson (alto), Horace Silver (piano), Curly Russell (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

This gig featured five sets, the material of which has been released and re-released in several different formats. Some tunes were performed in more than one set, and in some cases more than one take has been included.

Split Kick (Horace Silver)
Once in a While (M. Edwards, B. Green)
Quicksilver (Horace Silver)
Wee-Dot (J. J. Johnson, Leo Parker)
Blues
A Night in Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespie)
Mayreh (Horace Silver)
Wee-Dot (J. J. Johnson, Leo Parker)
If I Had You
Quicksilver (Horace Silver)
The Way You Look Tonight
Lou’s Blues (Lou Donaldson)
Now’s the Time (Charlie Parker)
Confirmation (Charlie Parker)

06/03/1954 Studio recording for Blue Note

Miles Davis Quartet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Horace Silver (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Davis spent some more time in the midwest still trying to kick his heroin addiction. After finally achieving this, he returned to New York and hastily fixed two recording dates with the same band as he was in need of money. Horace Silver was on piano duties – the first time Miles recorded with the young pianist who was known for playing in a ‘funky’ style. Silver would later team up with drummer in the band Art Blakey to create the Jazz Messengers (more later). The first session was for Blue Note at Rudy van Gelder’s Studio – which was actually set up in his parent’s living room in Hackensack New Jersey. This studio became one of the most popular for recording jazz musicians during the fifties, and it is a significant contribution to what became a ‘classic’ sound of jazz albums. The subsequent six tracks were released by Blue Note in 1954 as the album ‘Miles Davis, Vol. 3’.

Take Off (Miles Davis), just improvising over Deception
Lazy Susan (Miles Davis), based on Lady Bird
The Leap (Miles Davis)
Well You Needn’t (Miles Davis)
Weirdo (Miles Davis) later called Sid’s Ahead
It Never Entered My Mind (R. Rogers, L. Hart)

The second session Miles arranged was for Prestige, and the subsequent three tracks were released on the second side of the Prestige album ‘Miles Davis Quartet’ in 1954.

15/03/1954 Studio recording for Prestige

Miles Davis Quartet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Horace Silver (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Four (Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson)
Old Devil Moon (B. Lane, E. Y. Harburg)
Blue Haze (Miles Davis)
- According to Jules Colomby who worked at Prestige, the recording of this blues wasn’t going well so he suggested turning off all the lights in the studio and so they recorded it in darkness.

31/03/1954 Studio recording for Verve

Charlie Parker Quartet: Charlie Parker (alto), Walter Bishop, Jr. (piano), Jerome Darr (guitar), Teddy Kotick (bass), Roy Haynes (drums)

I Get a Kick Out of You (C. Porter)
Just One of Those Things (C. Porter)
My Heart Belongs to Daddy (C. Porter)
I’ve Got You Under My Skin (C. Porter)

03/04/1954 Studio session for Prestige

Miles Davis Quintet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Dave Schildkraut (alto), Horace Silver (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums)

Davis’ next two sessions for Prestige were released in a couple of different formats (various 10” LPs), but the most famous format now is probably the album ‘Walkin’. For the first session, Miles plays with a cup mute on all tracks, suggesting it was a very purposeful choice of sound. Perhaps it wasn’t quite the sound he was looking for though as he returns to un-muted trumpet for the second session.

Solar (Miles Davis)
- This is actually a tune called Sonny written by guitarist Chuck Wayne
You Don’t Know What Love is (D. Raye, G. DePaul)
Love Me or Leave Me (W. Donaldson, G. Kahn)
I’ll Remember April (D. Raye, G. DePaul, P. Johnson)

April 1954 Live recording from California Club (Los Angeles) for Gene Norman

Clifford Brown/Max Roach Quintet: Clifford Brown (trumpet), Teddy Edwards (tenor), Carl Perkins (piano), George Bledsoe (bass), Max Roach (drums)

All God’s Chillun Got Rhythm
Tenderly
Sunset Eyes
Clifford’s Axe

29/04/1954 Studio session for Prestige

Miles Davis Sextet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Eli “Lucky” Thompson (tenor), J. J. Johnson (trombone), Horace Silver (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums)

Blue ‘n’ Boogie (Dizzy Gillespie)
Walkin’ (R. carpenter)

11/05/1954 Studio session for Prestige released on Thelonious Monk Quintet with Frank Foster (1954)

Thelonious Monk Quintet: Ray Copeland (trumpet), Frank Foster (tenor), Thelonious Monk (piano), Curly Russell (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

We See (Thelonious Monk)
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (O. Harbach, J. Kern)
Locomotive (Thelonious Monk)
Hackensack (Thelonious Monk)

May 1954 Live recording for Columbia released on Jazz Goes To College (1954)

Dave Brubeck Quartet: Paul Desmond (alto), Dave Brubeck (piano), Bob Bates (bass), Joe Dodge (drums)

University of Michigan

Balcony Rock (Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond)
Take The “A” Train (Billy Strayhorn)
The Song Is You (O. Hammerstein II, J. Kern)
Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me (R. Bloom, T. Koehler)
I Want To Be Happy (I. Caesar, V. Youmans)

University of Cincinnati

Out Of Nowhere (J. Green, E. Heyman)

Oberlin College

Le Souk (Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond)

01/06/1954 Live recording from Salle Pleyel, Paris

Thelonious Monk Trio: Thelonious Monk (piano), Jean-Marie Ingrand (bass), Jean-Louis Viale (drums)

Well, You Needn’t (Theonious Monk)
‘Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk)
Off Minor (Thelonious Monk)
Hackensack/Epistrophy (Thelonious Monk)

02/06/1954 Studio session for Norman Granz – released on Bud Powell’s Moods (1956)

Bud Powell Trio: Bud Powell (piano), George Duvivier/Percy Heath (bass), Art Taylor (drums)

Moonlight in Vermont (K. Suessdorf, J. Blackburn)
Spring Is Here (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)
Buttercup (Bud Powell)
Fantasy in Blue (Bud Powell)

03/06/1954 Live recording from Salle Pleyel, Paris

Thelonious Monk Trio: Thelonious Monk (piano), Jean-Marie Ingrand (bass), Jean-Louis Viale or Gérard “Dave” Pochonet (drums)

‘Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk)

04/06/1954 Studio session for Norman Granz – released on Bud Powell’s Moods (1956)

Bud Powell Trio: Bud Powell (piano), George Duvivier/Percy Heath (bass), Art Taylor (drums)

It Never Entered My Mind (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)
A Foggy Day (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
Time Was aka Duerme (M. Prado, G. Luna, B. Russell)
My Funny Valentine (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)

4-7/06/1954 Broadcast recording from either Salle Pleyel or Club d’Essai, Paris

Bud Powell (solo piano)

Evidence (Thelonious Monk)
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (J. Kern)
Hackensack (Thelonious Monk)
‘Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk)
Eronel (Thelonious Monk)
Off Minor (Thelonious Monk)
Well, You Needn’t (Thelonious Monk)
Reflections (Thelonious Monk)
We See (Thelonious Monk)

29/06/1954 Studio session for Prestige

Miles Davis Quintet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Horace Silver (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums)

Miles’ next session was with the same established rhythm section but with Sonny Rollins who provides three great compositions. Although Miles is mostly un-muted for most of this session, he uses the harmon mute on Oleo, perhaps still searching for a particular sound. These four tracks were first released as a 10” LP called Miles Davis with Sonny Rollins on Prestige but later released in the 1957 album Bags’ Groove.

Airegin (Sonny Rollins)
Oleo (Sonny Rollins)
But Not for Me (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
Doxy (Sonny Rollins)

02/08/1954 Studio recording for EmArcy

Clifford Brown/Max Roach Quintet: Clifford Brown (trumpet), Harold Land (tenor), Richie Powell (piano), George Morrow (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Delilah (Victor Young)
Darn That Dream (J. Van Heusen, E. DeLange)
Parisian Thoroughfare (Bud Powell)

03/08/1954

Jordu (Duke Jordon)
Sweet Clifford (Clifford Brown)
Ghost Of A Chance (Victor Young, B. Crosby, N. Washington)

05/08/1954

Stompin’ At The Savoy (Benny Goodman, Andy Razaf, Edgar Sampson, Chick Webb)
I Get A Kick Out Of You (C. Porter)
I’ll String Along With You (A. Dublin, H. Warren)

06/08/1954

These Foolish Things (H. Link, H. Marvell, J. Strachey)
Joy Spring (Clifford Brown)
Mildama
Daahoud

22/09/1954 Studio recording for Prestige released on Thelonious Monk Plays (with Percy Heath and Art Blakey) (1954)

Thelonious Monk Trio: Thelonious Monk (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Work (Thelonious Monk)
Nutty (Thelonious Monk)
Blue Monk (Thelonious Monk)
Just a Gigaglo (J. Brammer, I. Caesar, L. Casucci)

25/09/1954 Live recording from Carnegie Hall for Roulette

The Birdland All-Stars: Charlie Parker (alto), John Lewis (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums)

‘Charlie Parker and Strings’ was booked for a three week engagement at Birdland from 26/08/54 but Parker was fired soon after the start of this run. His daughter Pree had died aged just three several months earlier and this almost certainly contributed to a severe decline in his well-being. After being fired from Birdland he attempted suicide by swallowing a bottle of iodine. He survived and was confined to Hospital until 10/09/1954.

The Song is You (J. Kern, O. Hammerstein)
My Funny Valentine (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)
Cool Blues (Charlie Parker)

12/10/1954 Studio recording for Columbia

Dave Brubeck Quartet: Paul Desmond (alto), Dave Brubeck (piano), Bob Bates (bass), Joe Dodge (drums)

Brubeck Time (1955)

Audrey (Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond)
Jeepers Creepers (J. Mercer, H. Warren)
A Fine Romance (J. Kern, D. Fields)

Jazz: Red Hot And Cool (1955)

Fare Thee Well, Annabelle (Wrubel, Dixon)
Sometimes I’m Happy (Caesar, Youmans)
Indiana (B. MacDonald, Hanley)
Love Walked In (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)

13/10/1954 Studio recording for Columbia – Brubeck Time (1955)

Dave Brubeck Quartet: Paul Desmond (alto), Dave Brubeck (piano), Bob Bates (bass), Joe Dodge (drums)

Stompin For Mili (Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond)

14/10/1954

Pennies From Heaven (J. Burke, A. Johnston)
Why Do I Love You (J. Kern, O. Hammerstein II)
Brother, Can You Spare A Dime (E. Y. Harburg, J. Gorney)

18/10/1954 Studio recording for Prestige – Moving Out (1956)

Sonny Rollins Quintet: Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Elmo Hope (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Art Blakey aka Abdullah Buhaina (drums)

Moving Out (Sonny Rollins)
Swingin’ for Bumsy (Sonny Rollins)
Silk N’ Satin (Sonny Rollins)
Solid (Sonny Rollins)

25/10/1954 Studio recording for Prestige – Sonny Rollins and Thelonious Monk (Quartet) (1954), rereleased on Thelonious Monk and Sonny Rollins (1956)

Sonny Rollins and Thelonious Monk Quartet: Sonny Rollins (tenor), Thelonious Monk (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Art Taylor (drums)

The Way You Blow Tonight
- An arrangement of The Way You Look Tonight (D. Fields, J. Kern)
I Want To Be Happy (I. Caesar, V. Youmans)
More Than You Know (E. Eliscu, B. Rose, V. Youmans)

10/11/1954 Studio recording for Columbia – Brubeck Time (1955)

Dave Brubeck Quartet: Paul Desmond (alto), Dave Brubeck (piano), Bob Bates (bass), Joe Dodge (drums)

Keepin’ Out Of Mischief Now (Fats Waller, A. Razaf)

10/12/1954 Studio recording for Verve

Charlie Parker Quintet: Charlie Parker (alto), Walter Bishop, Jr. (piano), Billy Bauer (guitar), Teddy Kotick (bass), Arthur Taylor (drums)

This session would be Parker’s last studio recording. He died three months later in the room of Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter at the Stanhope Hotel in New York. He had put his body through so much that the coroner predicted he was between fifty and sixty years old when he died. He was thirty-four. He had pneumonia, a bleeding ulcer and an advanced case of cirrhosis (liver disease).

Love for Sale (Cole Porter)

13/12/1954 Studio recording for Blue Note rereleased on Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers (1956)

Horace Silver & the Jazz Messengers: Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Hank Mobley (tenor), Horace Silver (piano), Doug Watkins (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Room 608 (Horace Silver)
Creepin’ In (Horace Silver)
Stop Time (Horace Silver)
Doodlin (Horace Silver)

16/12/1954 Studio recording for Norman Granz – released on Jazz Original aka Bud Powell ’57 in 1955

Bud Powell Trio: Bud Powell (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Like Someone In Love (J. Van Heusen, J. Burke)
Deep Night (C. E. Henderson, R. Vallée)
That Old Black Magic (H. Arlen, J. Mercer)
‘Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk)

23/12/1954 Studio session for Prestige released on Django (1956)

Modern Jazz Quartet: Milt Jackson (vibraphone), John Lewis (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums)

Django (John Lewis)
One Bass Hit (Dizzu Gillespie)
Milano (John Lewis)

24/12/1954 Studio session for Prestige

Miles Davis All-Stars: Miles Davis (trumpet), Milt Jackson (vibraphone), Thelonious Monk (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums)

Bag’s Groove (Milt Jackson)
Bemsha Swing (Thelonious Monk)
Swing Spring (Miles Davis)
The Man I Love (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)

December 1954 session for Period Records, re-released by Bethlehem on The Jazz Experiments of Charlie Mingus (1955)

Charlie Mingus Sextet: Thad Jones (trumpet), John LaPorta (clarinet + alto), Teo Macero (tenor + baritone), Jackson Wiley (cello), Charles Mingus (bass + piano), Clem DeRosa (drums)

What Is This Thing Called Love? (C. Porter)
Minor Intrusion (Charles Mingus)
Stormy Weather (H. Arlen, T. Koehler)
Four Hands (John LaPorta, Charles Mingus)
Thrice Upon a Theme (Charles Mingus)
The Spur of the Moment (John LaPorta)

23/12/1954 Studio session for Prestige released on Django (1956)

Modern Jazz Quartet: Milt Jackson (vibraphone), John Lewis (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums)

La Ronde Suite (John Lewis)

11/01/1955 Studio session for Norman Granz – released on Jazz Original aka Bud Powell ’57 (1955)

Bud Powell Trio: Bud Powell (piano), Lloyd Trotman (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Thou Swell (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)
Someone To Watch Over Me (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
Bean And The Boys (Coleman Hawkins)
Tenderly (W. Gross, J. Lawrence)

12/01/1955 Studio session for Norman Granz – released on Jazz Original aka Bud Powell ’57 (1955) and Bud Powell’s Moods (1956)

Bud Powell Trio: Bud Powell (piano), Lloyd Trotman (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

How High The Moon (M. Lewis, N. Hamilton)
I Get A Kick Out Of You (C. Porter)
The Best Thing for You (I. Berlin)
You Go to My Head (J. F. Coots, H. Gillespie)

13/01/1955 Studio session for Verve – released on The Lonely One (1959)

Bud Powell Trio: Bud Powell (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums)

Mediocre (Bud Powell)
All The Things You Are (J. Kern, O. Hammerstein)
Epistrophy (Thelonious Monk, Kenny Clarke)
Dance Of The Infidels (Bud Powell)
Salt Peanuts (Dizzy Gillespie)
Hey George – line over Sweet Georgia Brown (M. Pinkard, K. Casey)

06/02/1955 Studio recording for Blue Note rereleased on Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers (1956)

Horace Silver & the Jazz Messengers: Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Hank Mobley (tenor), Horace Silver (piano), Doug Watkins (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

To Whom It May Concern (Horace Silver)
Hippy (Horace Silver)
The Preacher (Horace Silver)
Hankerin (Horace Silver)

??/02/1955 Live at the Hi-Hat Club, Boston

Miles Davis w/ Hi-Hat All-Stars: Miles Davis (trumpet), Jay Migliori (tenor), Al Walcott (piano), Bob Freeman (piano), Jimmy Woode (bass), Jimmy Zitano (drums)

Dig (Jackie McLean)
Darn That Dream (E. DeLange, J. Van Heusen)
Ray’s Idea (Ray Brown, W. G. Fuller)
Nice Work if You Can Get It (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
Tune Up (Eddie Vinson)
Alone Together (H. Dietz, A Schwarts)
Well You Needn’t (Thelonious Monk)

25/04/1955 Studio session for Norman Granz released on Piano Interpretations by Bud Powell (1956)

Bud Powell Trio: Bud Powell (piano), George Duvivier (bass), Art Taylor (drums)

Conception (George Shearing)
Heart And Soul (H. Carmichael)
Willow Grove aka Willow Groove (Bud Powell)
Crazy Rhythm (J. Meyer, R. W. Kahn, I. Caesar)
Willow Weep For Me (A. Ronell)

27/04/1955 Studio session for Norman Granz released on Piano Interpretations by Bud Powell (1956) and The Lonely One (1959)

Bud Powell Trio: Bud Powell (piano), George Duvivier (bass), Art Taylor (drums)

Bean And The Boys (Coleman Hawkins)
East Of The Sun (B. Bowman)
Lady Bird (Tadd Dameron)
Stairway To The Stars (M. Malneck, F. Signorelli, M. Parish)
Lullaby In Rhythm (C. Profit, E. Sampson, Benny Goodman, W. Hirsch)
Star Eyes (G. De Paul, D. Raye)
Confirmation (Charlie Parker)

07/06/1955 Studio session for Prestige

Miles Davis Quartet: Miles Davis (trumpet), William “Red” Garland (piano), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Philly Joe Jones (drums)

This session for Prestige was Miles’ first to be released on the label’s new 12” LP format. These recordings were released in 1955 on the album The Musings of Miles. This is pianist Red Garland’s first studio recording with Miles, and he will become an increasingly significant contributor to the sound of Miles’ band along with the returning Philly Joe Jones (who previously had only recorded with Miles on that difficult session with Parker and Sonny Rollins). We can recognize Ahmed Jamal’s influence here in some of the song choices (Will You Still Be Mine and Gal in Calico)

Will You Still Be Mine (M. Dennis, T. Adair)
I See Your Face Before Me (H. Dietz, A. Schwartz)
I Didn’t (Miles Davis)
- Based on Monk’s Well You Needn’t. During Miles’ solo we hear the earliest example (that I can find) of Miles using a very specific phrase as a sort of signal to the rhythm section. Miles will use this device frequently in later years as a musical cue. I think we can think of this as improvised arranging.
Gal In Calico (L. Robin, A. Schwartz)
A Night In Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespie)
Green Haze (Miles Davis)

02/07/1955 Studio session for Prestige – Concorde (1955)

Modern Jazz Quartet: Milt Jackson (vibraphone), John Lewis (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Connie Kay (drums)

This is the band’s last recording for Prestige before joining Atlantic although Prestige would re-release some older MJQ material in the new 12” LP format. This is the bands first release on the 12” LP album format and is also the first recording with new drummer Connie Kay who had replaced Kenny Clarke. Clarke left the band at the end of the their Birdland stint in January and later said he left because “I wouldn’t be able to play the drums my way again after your or five years of playing eighteenth-century drawing-room jazz”

Ralph’s New Blues (Milt Jackson)
All of You (C. Porter)
I’ll Remember April (G. de Paul, P. Johnston, D. Raye)
Gershwin Medley (G. Gershwin)
- Soon
- For You, For Me, For Evermore
- Love Walked In
- Our Love IS Here To Stay
Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise (O. Hammerstein II, S. Romberg)
Concorde (John Lewis)

09/07/1955 Studio session for Debut

Miles Davis Quintet with Charles Mingus: Miles Davis (trumpet), Britt Woodman (trombone), Teddy Charles (vibraphone), Charles Mingus (bass), Elvin Jones (drums)

Miles recorded a different quintet altogether for this, and the subsequent recordings were released on the album Blue Moods by Charles Mingus’ record label ‘Debut Records’ in 1955. They used the new 12” LP format, however the recording was cut with deeper and wider grooves to provide a better bass sound. This restricted the total length of the record.

Nature Boy (Eden Ahbez, arr Teddy Charles)
Alone Together (Arther Schwartz, Howard Dietz, arr Charles Mingus)
There’s No You (Hal Hopper, Tom Adai, arr Teddy Charles)
Easy Living (Ralph Rainger, Lew Robin, arr Teddy Charles)

Shortly after this session, Miles was a late addition to a jam session at the 1955 Newport Jazz Festival. Miles’ drug taking and unreliability had caused many bookers to be wary of hiring him, but having finally managed to recover from heroin addiction the festival boss George Wein decided to add Miles to the bill at the last moment. He took part in an All-Star jam session that was only organized to fill time between sets by Count Basie and Dave Brubeck. George Avakian – a producer at Columbia Records – was in the audience, organized a lunch date with Miles straight after this performance to sign him to Columbia Records. This is regarded as a significant moment in Miles’ career, and it’s easy to see why given the albums Miles would go on to make with the label. On an interesting side-note, Duke Ellington was the guest MC and he seems not to think much about this ‘modern jazz’. You can hear the entire set here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UxxXnfgmmU

17/07/1955 Live jam at Newport

All Star jam session: Miles Davis (trumpet), Zoot Sims (tenor), Gerry Mulligan (baritone), Thelonious Monk (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Connie Kay (drums)

Hackensack (Thelonious Monk)
Round Midnght (Thelonious Monk)
Now’s The Time (Charlie Parker)

21-27/07/1955 Studio recording for Riverside released on Thelonious Monk Plays Duke Ellington (1956)

Thelonious Monk Trio: Thelonious Monk (piano), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums)

It Don’t Mean a Thing (Duke Ellingon)
Sophisticated Lady (Duke Ellington)
I Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good (Duke Ellington)
Black and Tan Fantasy (Bubber Miley, Duke Ellington)
Mood Indigo (Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington)
I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart (Duke Ellington)
Solitude (Duke Ellington)
Caravan (Juan Tizol, Duke Ellington)

05/08/1955 Studio recording for Prestige (RVG in Hackensack)

Miles Davis and Milt Jackson Quintet/Sextet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Jackie McLean (alto), Milt Jackson (vibraphone), Ray Braynt (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Arthur Taylor (drums)

Miles still had one year left on his contract with Prestige when he signed with Columbia, and he still owed the label four more albums. His new contract with Columbia stipulated that none of his Columbia recordings would be released until his deal with Prestige expired. He formed a new quintet featuring Sonny Rollins (tenor), Red Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass) and Philly Joe Jones (drums) – the first edition of Miles’ First Great Quintet. Sonny Rollins soon left and entered the Federal Medical Center Lexington for help with his heroin addiction. He was briefly replaced by tenor player John Gilmore before John Coltrane became the permanent tenor player in September 1955. None of these musicians would be on this Miles session however which resulted in four tracks that were released on the album ‘Miles Davis and Milt Jackson Quintet/Sextet’ (or ‘Quintet/Sextet’) in 1956.

Dr. Jackle (Jackie McLean)
Bitty Ditty (Thad Jones)
Minor March (Jackie McLean)
Changes (Ray Bryant)

08/08/1955 Live recording from Basin Street East (New York) for Columbia, released on Jazz: Red Hot and Cool

Dave Brubeck Quartet: Paul Desmond (alto), Dave Brubeck (piano), Bob Bates (bass), Joe Dodge (drums)

Lover (Hart, Rodgers)
Little Girl Blue (Hart, Rodgers)
The Duke (Dave Brubeck)
- This is the first release of Brubeck’s famous composition (it was recorded but rejected on a session the previous year)

15/10/1955 Studio session for Signal Records released on Gigi Gryce Orchestra and Quartet aka Nica’s Tempo (1955)

Gigi Gryce Quartet: Gigi Gryce (alto), Thelonious Monk (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Shuffle Boil (Thelonious Monk)
Brake’s Sake (Thelonious Monk)
Gallop’s Gallop (Thelonious Monk)
Nica’s Tempo (Gigi Gryce)

22/10/1955 Studio session for Signal Records released on Gigi Gryce Orchestra and Quartet aka Nica’s Tempo (1955)

Gigi Gryce Orchestra: Art Farmer (trumpet), Jimmy Cleveland (trombone on #1,2,4,6), Eddie Burt (trombone on #3,5), Gunther Schuller (French horn on #1,2,4,6), Julius Watkins (French horn on #3,5), Bill Barber (tuba), Danny Bank (baritone on #1,2,4,6), Cecil Payne (baritone on #3,5), Horace Silver (piano), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums on #1,2,4,6), Art Blakey (drums on #3,5), Ernestine Anderson (vocals on #3,5)

Speculation (Horace Silver)
In a Meditating Mood (Gigi Gryce)
Social Call (Gigi Gryce, Jon Hendricks)
Smoke Signal (Gigi Gryce)
The One I Love (Gigi Gryce)
Kerry Dance (trad)

Miles Diary

With Coltrane completing Miles’ working band in September 1955, the quintet was very busy gigging. I provide their schedule to give an idea of how playing the band was doing together given that this is a music that developed through frequent performing – sadly something that is extremely difficult for the modern day musician. (Dates marked with * are contentious).

27^th September – 2^nd October: Club Las Vagas, Baltimore

4^th – 9^th October*: Blue Bird Inn, Detroit

13^th – 16^th October: Birdland, New York

15^th October: Carnegie Hall, New York

17^th October: Andy’s Log Cabin, New Jersey

27^th October – 6^th November: Jazzarama, Boston

7^th – 13^th November: Cotton Club, Cleveland

17^th November: Tonight Show – Hudson Theatre, New York

18^th – 19^th November: Basin Street, New York

21^st – 26^th November: Olivia’s Patio Lounge, Washington DC

5^th – 10^th December: Blue Note, Philadelphia

21^st December – 1^st January 1956: Birdland Show Lounge, Chicago

On top of all these live performances, the band also recorded for both Prestige and Columbia (with the material from the Columbia sessions not being released until after Miles’ contract with Prestige was completed). The first session for Columbia resulted in five tracks, with only Ah-Leu-Cha the only track making it onto his first album for Columbia – ‘Round About Midnight’.

26/10/1955 Studio session for Columbia (Columbia Studio, NY)

Miles Davis Quintet: Miles Davis (trumpet), John Coltrane (tenor), Red Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), “Philly” Joe Jones (drums)

Two Bass Hit (John Lewis, Dizzy Gillespie)
Ah-Leu-Cha (Charlie Parker)
Billy Boy (trad), (possibly unissued)
Little Melonae (Jackie McLean)
Budo (Bud Powell, Miles Davis)

07/11/1955 Live recording from the Bee Hive Club (Chicago)

Clifford Brown – Max Roach Septet: Clifford Brown (trumpet), Nicky Hill + Sonny Rollins (tenors), Billy Wallace (piano), Leo Blevins (guitar), George Morrow (bass), Max Roach (drums)

I’ll Remember April parts 1+2 (D. Raye, G. DePaul, P. Johnston)
Walkin (Richard Carpenter)
Cherokee (Ray Noble)
- Chris Anderson replaces Billy Wallace on piano)
Woody N’ You (Dizzy Gillespie)
Hot House (Tadd Dameron)

16/11/1955 Studio session for Prestige (RVG Studio, Hackensack)

Miles Davis Quintet: Miles Davis (trumpet), John Coltrane (tenor), Red Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), “Philly” Joe Jones

The Quintet was back in Rudy van Gelder’s studio to record for Prestige. All six tracks were released on the album ‘Miles: The New Miles Davis Quintet’ in 1956.

Just Squeeze Me (Duke Ellington, Lee Gaines)
There Is No Greater Love (Isham Jones, Marty Symes)
How Am I to Know (Dorothy Parker, Jack King)
S’posin (Paul Denniker, Andy Razaf)
The Theme (Miles Davis)
Stablemates (Benny Golson)

17/11/1955 Live broadcast from the Tonight Show, Hudson Theatre (NY)

Miles Davis Quintet: Miles Davis (trumpet), John Coltrane (tenor), William “Red” Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), “Philly” Joe Jones (drums)

Max is Making Wax (Oscar Pettiford)
It Never Entered My Mind (R. Rogers, L. Hart)

23/11/1955 Live recording from Café Bohemia, New York, released on The Jazz Messengers At The Café Bohemia volume 1 and 2

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers: Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Hank Mobley (tenor), Horace Silver (piano), Doug Watkins (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Volume 1:

Soft Winds (Benny Goodman)
The Theme
Minor’s Holiday (Kenny Dorham)
Alone Together (A. Schwartz, H. Dietz)
Prince Albert (Kenny Dorham)
Lady Bird (Tadd Dameron)
What’s New? (B. Haggart, J. Burke)
Deciphering the Message (Hank Mobley)

Volume 2:

Sportin’ Crowd (Hank Mobley)
Like Someone in Love( J. Burke, J. Van Heusen)
Yesterdays (O. Harbach, J. Kern)
Avila and Tequila (C. Porter)
I Waited For You (Dizzy Gillespie, Gil Fuller)
Just One of Those Things (C. Porter)
Hank’s Symphony (Hank Mobley)
Gone with the Wind (H. Magidson, Allie Wrubel)

02/12/1955 Studio recording for Prestige – Work Time (1956)

Sonny Rollins Quartet: Sonny Rollins (tenor), Ray Bryant (piano), George Morrow (bass), Max Roach (drums)

There’s No Business Like Show Business (I. Berlin)
Paradox (Sonny Rollins)
Raincheck (Billy Strayhorn)
There Are Such Things (S. Adams, A. Baer, G. W. Meyer)
It’s All Right with Me (C. Porter)

23/12/1955 Live recording for Debut from Café Bohemia, New York, released on Mingus at the Bohemia (1956) and Charles Mingus Quintet & Max Roach (1964)

Charles Mingus Quintet: George Barrow (tenor), Eddie Bert (trombone), Mal Waldron (piano), Charles Mingus (bass), Willie Jones (drums)

Jump Monk (Charles Mingus)
Serenade In Blue (M. Gordon, H. Warren)
Percussion Discussion (Charles Mingus, Max Roach)
- Mingus plays cello, Max Roach plays drums
Work Song (Charles Mingus)
Septemberly (A. Dublin, H. Warren, W. Gross, J. Lawrence)
- Mingus combines September in the Rain with Tenderly
All The Things You C# (J. Kern, O. Hammerstein, S. Rachmaninoff)
- Mingus uses an excerpt from Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in C-sharp minor
A Foggy Day (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
Drums (Charles Mingus, Max Roach)
- Max Roach plays drums
Haitian Fight Song (Charles Mingus)
Lady Bird (Tadd Dameron)
I’ll Remember April (G. de Paul, P. Johnston, D. Raye)
Love Chant (Charles Mingus)

04/01/1956 Studio recording for EmArcy (Mercury Records) – At Basin Street (1956)

Clifford Brown – Max Roach Quintet: Clifford Brown (trumpet), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Richie Powell (piano), George Morrow (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Gertrude’s Bounce (Richie Powell)
Junior’s Arrival aka Step Lightly (Benny Golson)
- Released on the albums expanded edition
Powell’s Prances (Richie Powell)

30/01/1956 Studio recording for Atlantic released on Pithecanthropus Erectus (1956)

Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop: Jackie McLean (alto), J. R. Monterose (tenor), Mal Waldron (piano), Charles Mingus (bass), Willie Jones (drums)

Pithecanthropus Erectus (Charles Mingus)
A Foggy Day (G. Gershwin)
Profile of Jackie (Charles Mingus)
Love Chant (Charles Mingus)

16/02/1956 Studio recording for EmArcy – Clifford Brown And Max Roach At Basin Street (1956)

Clifford Brown – Max Roach Quintet: Clifford Brown (trumpet), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Richie Powell (piano), George Morrow (bass), Max Roach (drums)

What Is This Thing Called Love (C. Porter)
Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing (S. Fain, P. F. Webster)

17/02/1956 Studio recording for EmArcy – Clifford Brown And Max Roach At Basin Street (1956)

Clifford Brown – Max Roach Quintet: Clifford Brown (trumpet), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Richie Powell (piano), George Morrow (bass), Max Roach (drums)

I’ll Remember April (G. de Paul, P. Johnston, D. Raye)
Time (Richie Powell)
The Scene Is Clean (Tadd Dameron)
Flossie Lou (Tadd Dameron)
- Included as a bonus track on the CD rerelease

Miles Diary:

The Quintet was just as busy at the start of 1956:

1^st January: Park City Bowl, New York (assumed)

6^th – 19^th January: Jazz City, Hollywood

24^th January – 5^th February: Blackhawk Supper Club, San Francisco

10^th February – 1^st March: Jazz City, Hollywood

During this second stint at Jazz City in Los Angeles, the band appeared at the Pacific Jazz Festival (produced by Gene Norman), playing at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Luckily for us, the set was recorded.

18/02/1956 Live recording from Pasadena Civic Auditorium

Miles Davis Quintet: Miles Davis (trumpet), John Coltrane (tenor), William “Red” Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), “Philly” Joe Jones (drums)

Max is Making Wax (Oscar Pettiford)
Walkin’ (R. Carpenter)
- Miles quotes Without a Song towards the end of his solo
- Red Garland ends his solo with a shout chorus from the Count Basie / Joe Williams track Everyday I Have the Blues in what seems to be a loose arrangement.
It Never Entered My Mind (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)
Woody ‘n’ You (Dizzy Gillespie)
Salt Peanuts (Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Clarke)
The Theme (Miles Davis)

01-02/03/1956 Studio recording (Los Angeles, California) for Jazz West – Chambers’ Music (1956)

Paul Chambers Quartet: John Coltrane (tenor), Kenny Drew (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), “Philly” Joe Jones (drums)

This was the bass players debut album as a leader

Dexterity (Charlie Parker)
Stablemates (Benny Golson)
Easy To Love (C. Porter)
John Paul Jones aka Tranes Blues (John Coltrane)
Eastbound (Kenny Drew)

Miles Diary:

7^th – 11^th March: Birdland Show Lounge, Chicago

12^th March: Graystone Ballroom, Detroit

Whilst Miles’ quintet continued to keep a busy schedule (outlined above and below), he recorded another session for Prestige with a different band to complete the unsuccessful 1953 session with Sonny Rollins and Charlie Parker. Sonny Rollins returns having recently quit heroin, but besides him and Miles the rest of the band is completely different to that failed session. The resulting three tracks were released along with the three tracks from the 1953 session (with Rollins and Parker) on the album Collectors’ Items in 1956.

16/03/1956 Studio session for Prestige (RVG Studio, Hackensack)

Miles Davis Quintet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Tommy Flanagan (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Arthur Taylor (drums)

In Your Own Sweet Way (Dave Brubeck)
No Line (Miles Davis)
Vierd Blues aka Trane’s Blues (Miles Davis

17/03/1956 Studio session for Riverside Records released on The Unique Thelonious Monk (1956)

Thelonious Monk Trio: Thelonious Monk (piano), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Liza (All the Clouds’ll Roll Away) (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin, G. Kahn)
Memories of You (E. Blake, A. Razaf)
You Are Too Beautiful (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)
Just You, Just Me (J. Greer, R. Klages)

22/03/1956 Studio recording for Prestige – Sonny Rollins Plus 4 (1956)

Sonny Rollins w/ Clifford Brown – Max Roach: Clifford Brown (trumpet), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Richie Powell (piano), George Morrow (bass), Max Roach (drums)

This is the last studio recording that Clifford Brown and Richie Powell appeared on before they were both killed in a car crash in June.

Valse Hot (Sonny Rollins)
Kiss and Run (S. Coslow)
I Feel A Song Coming On (D. Fields, J. McHugh, G. Oppenheimer)
Count Your Blessings (I. Berlin)
Pent-Up House (Sonny Rollins)

31/03/1956 Studio recording for RCA Victor – The Jazz Workshop (1957)

George Russell Sextet: Art Farmer (trumpet), Hal McKusick (flute + alto), Bill Evans (piano), Barry Galbraith (guitar), Milt Hinton (bass), Joe Harris (drums)

Ye Hypocrite, Ye Beelzebub (George Russell)
Jack’s Blues (George Russell)
Livingstone I Presume (George Russell)
Ezz-Thetic (George Russell)

03/04/1956 Studio session for Riverside Records released on The Unique Thelonious Monk (1956)

Thelonious Monk Trio: Thelonious Monk (piano), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Honeysuckle Rose (Fats Waller, A. Razaf)
Darn That Dream (E. DeLange, J. Van Heusen)
Tea For Two (J. Greer, R. Klages)

05/04/1956 Studio session for Columbia released on The Jazz Messangers (1956)

Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers: Donald Byrd (trumpet), Hank Mobley (tenor), Horace Silver (piano), Doug Watkins (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Infra-Rae (Hank Mobley)
Nica’s Dream (Horace Silver)
It’s You of No One (S. Cahn, J. Styne)
Carole’s Interlude (Hank Mobley)
The End of a Love Affair (E.C. Redding)
I’ll Wind (H. Arlen, T. Koehler)
Late Show (Hank Mobley)
Deciphering the Message (Hank Mobley)

13/04/1956 Studio recording for El Saturn Records released on Super-Sonic Jazz (1957)

Sun Ra and His Arkestra: Art Hoyle (trumpet + purcussion), Julian Priester (trombone), James Scales (alto + purcusion), Pat Patrick (baritone), John Gilmore (percussion), Sun Ra (piano + electric piano), Wilburn Green (electric bass), Robert Barry (drums)

Springtime in Chicago (Sun Ra)

20/04/1956 Studio recording for Jazz West

Paul Chambers Sextet: Curtis Fuller (trombone), John Coltrane (tenor), Pepper Adams (baritone), Roland Alexander (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), “Philly” Joe Jones (drums)

Trane’s Strain
High Step (Benny Harris)
Nixon, Dixon And Yates Blues

28/04/1956 Live recording from Basin Street East (New York)

Clifford Brown – Max Roach Quintet: Clifford Brown (trumpet), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Richie Powell (piano), George Morrow (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Valse Hot (Sonny Rollins)
I Feel A Song Coming On (D. Fields, J. McHugh, G. Oppenheimer)

04/05/1956 Studio session for Columbia released on The Jazz Messengers (1956)

Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers: Donald Byrd (trumpet), Hank Mobley (tenor), Horace Silver (piano), Doug Watkins (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Ecaroh (Horace Silver)
Hank’s Symphony (Hank Mobley)
Weird-O (Hank Mobley)
Carole’s Interlude alternate take (Hank Mobley)

06/05/1956 Live recording from Basin Street East (New York)

Clifford Brown Quintet: Clifford Brown (trumpet), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Richie Powell (piano), George Morrow (bass), Willie Jones (drums)

What’s New (B. Haggart)
Daahoud (Clifford Brown)
Sweet Clifford (Clifford Brown)

07/05/1956 Studio recording for Prestige – Informal Jazz (1956)

Elmo Hope Sextet: Donald Byrd (trumpet), John Coltrane + Hank Mobley (tenors), Elmo Hope (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), “Philly” Joe Jones (drums)

Weeja (Elmo Hope)
Polka Dots And Moonbeams (J. Van Heusen, J. Burke)
On It (Elmo Hope)
Avalon (A. Jolson, B. DeSylva, V. Rose)

Miles Diary:

19^th – 25^th March: Loop Lounge, Cleveland

26^th – 31^st March: Blue Note, Philadelphia

3^rd – 8^th April: Ridge Crest Inn, Rochester

9^th – 15^th April: Oyster Barrel, Quebec City

16^th – 22^nd April: Storyville Club, Boston

3^rd – 9^th May Café Bohemia, New York

11/05/1956

Miles Davis Quintet: Miles Davis (trumpet), John Coltrane (tenor), William “Red” Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), “Philly” Joe Jones

Miles scheduled this mammoth session with his working quintet, still working to complete the albums he owed to Prestige. He booked a similarly long session in October, and the subsequent tracks from these two sessions would be released across four LPs over a five year period: Cookin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet (July 1957), Relaxin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet (March 1958), Workin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet (January 1961), and Steamin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet (July/August 1961).

In Your Own Sweet Way (Dave Brubeck)
Diane (E. Rapee, L. Pollack)
Trane’s Blues (Miles Davis)
Something I Dreamed Last Night (J. Yellen, S. Fain, H. Magidson)
It Could Happen to You (J. Burke, J. Van Heusen)
Woody ‘n’ You (Dizzy Gillespie)
Ahmad’s Blues (Ahmad Jamal)
Surrey with the Fringe on Top (R. Rogers, O. Hammerstein)
It Never Entered My Mind (R. Rogers, L. Hart)
When I Fall in Love (E. Heyman, V. Young)
Salt Peanuts (Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Clarke)
Four (Eddie Vinson)
The Theme (Miles Davis)

24/05/1956 Studio session for Prestige – Tenor Madness (1956)

Sonny Rollins Quartet: Sonny Rollins (tenor), Red Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), “Philly” Joe Jones (drums)

Tenor Madness
- Featuring John Coltrane (tenor)
When Your Lover Has Gone
Paul’s Pal
My Reverie
The Most Beautiful Girl In The World

Miles Diary

25^th May – 10^th June: Café Bohemia, New York

During this engagement at Café Bohemia, the quintet went into Columbia’s studio for a second time, recording three tracks that would be released in 1957 on Miles’ debut album for Columbia – ‘Round About Midnight.

05/06/1956 Studio session for Columbia (Columbia Studio, New York)

Miles Davis Quintet: Miles Davis (trumpet), John Coltrane (tenor), William “Red” Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), “Philly” Joe Jones (drums)

Dear Old Stockholm (trad. Arr S. Getz)
Bye Bye Blackbird (R. Henderson, M. Dixon)
Tadd’s Delight (Tadd Dameron)

16/06/1956 Studio recording for Transition released on Jazz by Sun Ra (1957)

Sun Ra and His Arkestra: Art Hoyle (trumpet), Julian Priester (trombone), John Gilmore (tenor), Pat Patrick (baritone ), Sun Ray (piano + electric piano + ‘space gong’), Wilburn Green (electric bass), Robert Barry (drums), Jim Herndon (timpani + percussion)

Super Blonde (Sun Ra)
Soft Talk (Julian Priester)
Medicine for a Nightmare (Sun Ra)
Advice to Medics (Sun Ra)

18/06/1956 Live recording from Continental Restaurant (Norfolk, Virginia)

Clifford Brown – Max Roach Quintet: Clifford Brown (trumpet), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Richie Powell (piano), George Morrow (bass), Max Roach (drums)

These are the last known recordings of Clifford Brown and Richie Powell who both died in a car crash eight days after this concert.

Just One Of Those Things (C. Porter)
You Go To My Head (J. F. Coots, H. Gillespie)
Good Bait (Tadd Dameron, Count Basie)
One For My Baby (H. Arlen, J. Mercer)
Someone To Watch Over Me (G. Gershwin, I. Girshwin, H. Dietz)
What’s New? (B. Haggart, J. Burke)
These Foolish Things (J. Strachey, E. Maschwitz)
I Get a Kick Out of You (C. Porter)

22/06/1956 Studio recording for Prestige – Saxophone Colossus (1956/7)

Sonny Rollins Quartet: Sonny Rollins (tenor), Tommy Flanagan (piano), Doug Watkins (bass), Max Roach (drums)

St Thomas (Sonny Rollins)
You Don’t Know What Love Is (G. de Paul, D. Raye)
Strode Rode (Sonny Rollins)
Moritat (K. Weill, B. Brecht)
Blue 7 (Sonny Rollins)

12/07/1956 Studio recording for Transition released on Jazz by Sun Ra (1957)

Sun Ra and His Arkestra: Art Hoyle + Dave Young (trumpets + purcussion), Julian Priester (trombone + percussion), James Scales (alto), John Gilmore (tenor + percussion), Pat Patrick (baritone + percussion), Richard Evans (bass), Wilburn Green (electric bass + percussion), Robert Barry (drums), Jim Herndon (timpani)

Brainville (Sun Ra)
Call for all Demons (Sun Ra)
Transition (Sun Ra)
Possession (Harry Revel)
Street Named Hell (Sun Ra)
Lullaby for Realville (Richard Evans)
Future (Sun Ra)
New Horizons (Sun Ra)
Fall off the Log (Sun Ra)
Sun Song (Sun Ra)

Miles Diary:

11^th – 16^th June: Blue Note, Philadelphia

19^th June – 8^th July: Crown Propeller Lounge, Chicago

9^th July: Graystone Ballroom, Detroit

13^th – 21^st July: Peacock Alley, St Louis

24^th – 29^th July: Rouge Lounge, Detroit (probably canceled)

7^th – 29^th September: Café Bohemia, New York

During the quintet’s September stint at Café Bohemia, Miles and his band recorded a third session for Columbia. Two tracks (All of You and Round Midnight) were released on ‘Round About Midnight (1957), and the third track they recorded (Sweet Sue, Just You) seems to have been made in collaboration with renowned composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein for a sort of jazz lecture released as an LP called What Is Jazz? by Columbia. I’ve included the false start of this track plus some studio chatter before they recorded Round Midnight in case the dialogue between Miles, Bernstein and the producer Avakian is of interest.

10/09/1956 Studio session for Columbia

Miles Davis Quintet: Miles Davis (trumpet), John Coltrane (tenor), William “Red” Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), “Philly” Joe Jones (drums)

All of You (Cole Porter)
Sweet Sue, Just You (W. Harris, V. Young)
‘Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk)

1^st – 7^th October: Storyville, Boston

15^th – 29^th October: Café Bohemia, New York

Late Summer 1956, private recordings made from Pannonica de Koenigswarter’s hotel apartment in the Bolivar Hotel, New York

Thelonious Monk (solo piano)

Pannonica (Thelonious Monk)
Lulu’s Back in Town (H. Warren, Al Dublin)

13/09/1956 Studio recording for Verve released on Blues in the Closet (1958)

Bud Powell Trio: Bud Powell (piano), Ray Brown (bass), Osie Johnson (drums)

When I Fall In Love (V. Young, E. Herman)
My Heart Stood Still (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)
Blues in the Closet aka Collard Greens and Black Eyed Peas (Harry Babasin, Oscar Pettiford)
Swingin’ Till the Girls Come Home (Oscar Pettiford)
I Know You Know (V. Youmans, A. Caldwell)
Elegy aka Elogie (Bud Powell)
Woody ‘n You (Dizzy Gillespie)
I Should Care (S. Cahn, A. Stordahl, P. Weston)
Now’s The Time (Charlie Parker)
I Didn’t Know What Time It Was (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)
Be-Bop (Dizzy Gillespie)
52^nd Street Theme (Thelonious Monk)

14/09/1956 Studio recording for Transitiom – Jazz Advance (1956)

Cecil Taylor Quartet: Cecil Taylor (piano), Buell Neidlinger(bass), Denis Charles (drums), Steve Lacey (soprano on 2+4):

Bemsha Swing (Thelonious Monk, Denzil Best)
Charge ‘Em Blues (Cecil Taylor)
Azure (Duke Ellington)
Song (Cecil Taylor)
You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To (Cole Porter)
Rick Kick Shaw (Cecil Taylor)
Sweet and Lovely (Gus Arnheim, Jules LeMare, Harry Tobias)

17/09/1956 Studio for EmArcy – Max Roach + 4 (1956)

Max Roach Quintet: Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Ray Bryant (piano), George Morrow (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Just One of Those Things (C. Porter)
Mr. X (Max Roach)
Body and Soul (E. Heyman, R. Sour, F. Eyton, J. Green)

18+27/09/1956 Studio recording for Riverside – New Jazz Conceptions (1957)

Bill Evans Trio: Bill Evans (piano), Teddy Kotick (bass), Paul Motian (bass)

I Love You (C. Porter)
Five (Bill Evans)
I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good) (Duke Ellington, P. F. Webster)
Conception (George Shearing)
Easy Living (L. Robin, R. Rainger)
Displacement (Bill Evans)
Speak Low (K. Weill, O. Nash)
Waltz for Debby (Bill Evans, G. Lees)
Our Delight (Tadd Dameron)
My Romance (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)
No Cover, No Minimum (Bill Evans)

19/09/1956 Studio for EmArcy – Max Roach + 4 (1956)

Max Roach Quintet: Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Ray Bryant (piano), George Morrow (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Ezz-Thetic (George Russell)
Dr. Free-Zee (Max Roach)
Woody ‘n’ You (Dizzy Gillespie)
The Most Beautiful Girl In The World (L. Hart, R. Rodger)
- Released on Jazz in ¾ Time (1957)

21/09/1956 Studio recording for Blue Note – Whims of Chambers (1957)

Paul Chambers Sextet: Donald Byrd (trumpet), John Coltrane (tenor), Horace Silver (piano), Kenny Burrell (guitar), Paul Chambers (bass), “Philly” Joe Jones (drums)

Omicron (Donald Byrd)
Nita (John Coltrane)
We Six (Donald Byrd)
Just for the Love (John Coltrane)

September or October 1956 Studio recording for Transition – Jazz by Sun Ra (1957)

Sun Ra and His Arkestra: Art Hoyle (trumpet), Pat Patrick (alto + percussion), John Gilmore (tenor + percussion), Charles Davis (baritone + percussion), Sun Ra (piano, electric piano, ‘space gong’), Victor Sproles (bass), William Cochran (drums), Jim Herndon (timpani + percussion)

Kingdom of Not (Sun Ra)
Portrait of The Living Sky (Sun Ra)
Blues at Midnight (Sun Ra)
El Is A Sound of Joy (Sun Ra)
India (Sun Ra)
Sunology Part 1 (Sun Ra)
Sunology Part 2 (Sun Ra)

05/10/1956 Studio recording for Prestige – Rollins Plays for Bird (1957)

Sonny Rollins Quintet: Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Wade Legge (piano), George Morrow (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Bird Melody:
- I Remember You (V. Schertzinger, J. Mercer)
- My Melancholy Baby (E. Burnett, G. A. Norton)
- Old Folks (W. Robison, D. L. Hill)
- They Can’t Take That Away From Me (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
- Just Friends (J. Klenner, S. M. Lewis)
- My Little Suede Shoes (Charlie Parker)
- Star Eyes (G. de Paul, D. Raye)
Kids Know (Sonny Rollins)
I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face (A. J. Lerner, F. Loewe)
The House I Live In (L. Allan, E. Robinson)
- Released as a bonus track on rerelease

05/10/1956 Studio Recording for RCA Victor – released on Strictly Powell (1957)

Bud Powell Trio: Bud Powell (piano), George Duvivier (bass), Art Taylor (drums)

There’ll Never Be Another You (H. Warren, M Gordon)
Coscrane (Bud Powell)
Over the Rainbow (H. Arlen, E. Y. Harburg)
Blues for Bessie (Bud Powell)
Time Was aka Duerme (M. Prado, G. Luna, B. Russell)
Topsy Turvy (Bud Powell)
Lush Life (Billy Strayhorn)
Elegy aka Elogie aka Elegie (Bud Powell)
They Didn’t Believe Me (J. Kern)
I Cover The Waterfront (J. Green, E. Heyman)
Jump City (Bud Powell)

09/10/1956 Studio recording for Riverside Records released on Brilliant Corners (1957)

Thelonious Monk Quintet: Ernie Henry (alto), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Thelonious Monk (piano + celeste), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Ba-lue Bolivar Ba-lues-are (Thelonious Monk)
Pannonica (Thelonious Monk)

15/10/1956 Studio recording for Riverside Records released on Brilliant Corners (1957)

Thelonious Monk Quintet: Ernie Henry (alto), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Thelonious Monk (piano), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Brilliant Corners (Thelonious Monk)

17/10/1956 Studio recording for RCA Victor – Jazz Workshop (1957)

George Russell Sextet: Art Farmer (trumpet), Hal McKusick (flute + alto), Bill Evans (piano), Barry Galbraith (guitar), Milt Hinton (bass), Paul Motian (drums)

Night Sound (George Russell)
Round Johnny Rondo (George Russell)
Witch Hunt (George Russell)
Concerto For Billy The Kid (George Russell)

20/10/1956 Studio recording for Columbia

Brass Ensemble of the Jazz and Classical Music Society, conducted by Gunther Schuller

Three Little Feelings (John Lewis)

21/10/1956 Studio recording for RCA Victor – Jazz Workshop (1957)

George Russell Septet: Art Farmer (trumpet), Hal McKisick (flute + alto), Bill Evans (piano), Barry Galbraith (guitar), Teddy Kotick (bass), George Russell (chromatic drums on Fellow Delegates), Osie Johnson (woodblock + drums)

Fellow Delegates (George Russell)
The Sad Sergeant (George Russell)
Knights Of The Steamtable (George Russell)
Ballad Of Hix Blewitt (George Russell)

23/10/1956 Studio recording for Columbia

Brass Ensemble of the Jazz and Classical Music Society, conducted by Gunther Schuller

Poem for Brass (J. J. Johnson)

Miles’ final session for Prestige was another long day of recording. Along with the tracks record on the previous mammoth session for Prestige, these tunes were released across four LPs over a five year period: Cookin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet (July 1957), Relaxin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet (March 1958), Workin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet (January 1961), and Steamin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet (July/August 1961).

26/10/1956 Studio recording for Prestige

Miles Davis Quintet: Miles Davis (trumpet), John Coltrane (tenor), William “Red” Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), “Philly” Joe Jones (drums)

If I Were a Bell (F. Loesser)
Well, You Needn’t (Thelonious Monk)
‘Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk)
Half Nelson (Miles Davis)
You’re My Everything (M. Dixon, J. Young, H. Warren)
I Could Write a Book (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)
Oleo (Sonny Rollins)
Airegin (Sonny Rollins)
Tune Up (Eddie Vinson)
When Lights Are Low (Benny Carter, Spencer Williams)
Blues by Five (Red Garland)
My Funny Valentine (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)

01/11/1956 Studio recording for Transition Records (unreleased), released by Delmark Records on Sound of Joy (1968)

Sun Ra and His Arkestra: Art Hoyle (trumpet), Dave Young (trumpet), John Avant (trombone), Pat Patrick (alto + baritone), John Gilmore (tenor), Charles Davis (baritone), Sun Ra (piano + wurlitzer) Victor Sproles (bass), William Cochran (drums), Jim Herndon (timpani + timbales)

El is a Sound of Joy (Sun Ra)
Overtones of China (Sun Ra)
Two Tones (Pat Patrick, Charles Davis)
Paradise (Sun Ra)
Planet Earth (Sun Ra)
Ankh (Sun Ra)
Saturn (Sun Ra)
Reflections in Blue (Sun Ra)
El Viktor (Sun Ra)
As You Once Were (Sun Ra)
Dreams Come True (Sun Ra)

02/11/1956 Live recording from Salle Pleyel (Paris)

Birdland All-Stars in Europe: Miles Davis (trumpet), Lester Young (tenor), René Urtreger (piano), Pierre Michelot (bass), Christian Garros (drums)

Lady Be Good (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
- Not the first time we’ve heard Miles has quote Without a Song in an a surprising context.

30/11/1956 Studio recording for Prestige – Mating Call (1957)

Tadd Dameron ft John Coltrane: John Coltrane (tenor), Tadd Dameron (piano), John Simmons (bass), “Philly” Joe Jones

Mating Call (Tadd Dameron)
Gnid (Tadd Dameron)
Soultrane (Tadd Dameron)
On A Misty Night (Tadd Dameron)
Romas (Tadd Dameron)
Super Jet (Tadd Dameron)

07/12/1956 Studio recording for Riverside Records – Brilliant Corners (1957)

Thelonious Monk Quintet: Clark Terry (trumpet), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Thelonious Monk (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Max Roach (drums + timpani)

Bemsha Swing (Thelonious Monk, Denzil Best)
I Surrender, Dear (H. Barris)

07/12/1956 Studio session for Prestige – Tour De Force (1957)

Sonny Rollins Quartet + Earl Coleman: Sonny Rollins (tenor), Kenny Drew (piano), George Morrow (bass), Max Roach (drums), Earl Coleman (vocals)

Ee-Ah (Sonny Rollins)
B. Quick (Sonny Rollins)
Two Different Worlds (A. Frisch, S. Wayne)
B. Swift (Sonny Rollins)
My Ideal (N. Chase, L. Robin, R. A. Whiting)
Sonny Boy (L. Brown, B. DeSylva, R. Henderson, A. Jolson)
- Released as a bonus track on CD rerelease

08/12/1956 Live radio broadcast from Blue Note Club, Philadelphia

Miles Davis Quintet: Miles Davis (trumpet), John Coltrane (tenor), William “Red” Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), “Philly” Joe Jones (drums)

Tune Up (Eddie Vinson)
Walkin (R. Carpenter)
- Miles quotes the melody to Royal Garden Blues at the start of his solo.
- Red Garland ends his solo with a shout chorus taken from a Joe Williams / Count Basie recording Everyday I Have The Blues. This is the second live recording of this tune that I have heard him do this on, so I assume it was a sort of arrangement.

12/12/1956 Studio recoding for Columbia – Hard Bop (1957)

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers: Bill Hardman (trumpet), Jackie McLean (alto), Sam Dockery (piano), Spanky DeBrest (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Cranky Spanky (Bill Hardman)
Stella by Starlight (V. Young, N. Washington)
My Heart Stood Still (L. Hart, R. Rodgers)
Little Melonae (Jackie McLean)

13/12/1956 Studio recoding for Columbia – Hard Bop (1957)

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers: Bill Hardman (trumpet), Jackie McLean (alto), Sam Dockery (piano), Spanky DeBrest (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Stanley’s Stiff Chicken (Bill Hardman, Jackie McLean)

16/12/1956 Studio recording for Blue Note – Sonny Rollins, Volume 1 (1957)

Sonny Rollins Quintet: Donald Byrd (trumpet), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Wynton Kelly (piano), Gene Ramey (bass), Max Roaxh (drums)

Decision (Sonny Rollins)
Bluesnote (Sonny Rollins)
How Are Things in Glocca Morra (B. Lane, E.Y. Harburg)
Plain Jane (Sonny Rollins)
Sonnysphere (Sonny Rollins)

11/02/1957 Studio recording for RCA Victor released on Swingin’ With Bud (1958)

Bud Powell Trio: Bud Powell (piano), George Duvivier (bass), Art Taylor (drums)

Another Dozen (George Duvivier)
Like Someone In Love (J. Van Heusen, J. Burke)
Salt Peanuts (Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Clarke)
She (George Shearing)
Swedish Pastry (Barney Kessel)
Shaw Nuff (Dizzy Gillespie)
Oblivion (Bud Powell)
In The Blue of the Evening (A. D’Artega, T. Adair)
Get It (Bud Powell)
Birdland Blues (Bud Powell)
Midway (Bud Powell)

13/02/1957 Studio recording for Atlantic released on The Clown (1957)

Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop: Jimmy Knepper (trombone), Curtis Porter (alto + tenor), Wade Legge (piano), Charles Mingus (bass), Dannie Richmond (drums), Jean Shepherd (narrator)

The Clown (Charles Mingus)

07/03/1957 Studio recording for Contemporary – Way Out West (1957)

Sonny Rollins Trio: Sonny Rollins (tenor), Ray Brown (bass), Shelly Manne (drums)

I’m an Old Cowhand (J. Mercer)
Solitude (Duke Ellington)
Come, Gone (Sonny Rollins)
Wagon Wheels (P. DeRose)
There Is No Greater Love (I. Jones)
Way Out West (Sonny Rollins)

12/03/1957 Studio recording for Atlantic released on The Clown (1957) and Tonight at Noon (1964)

Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop: Jimmy Knepper (trombone), Curtis Porter (alto + tenor), Wade Legge (piano), Charles Mingus (bass), Dannie Richmond (drums)

Haitian Fight Song (Charles Mingus)
Blue Cee (Charles Mingus)
Reincarnation of a Lovebird (Charles Mingus)
Passions of a Woman Loved (Charles Mingus)
Tonight at Noon (Charles Mingus)

18/03/1957 Studio recoding for EmArcy

Max Roach Quintet: Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Bill Wallace (piano), George Morrow (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Jazz in ¾ Time (1957)

Blues Waltz (Max Roach)
I’ll Take Romance (O. Hammerstein, B. Oakland)

Max Roach + 4 & More (1984)

It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing (Duke Ellington)
Love Letters (E. Heyman, V. Young)

20/03/1957 Studio recording for EmArcy

Max Roach Quintet: Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Bill Wallace (piano), George Morrow (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Jazz in ¾ Time (1957)

Valse Hot (Sonny Rollins)
Little Folks (Max Roach)

Max Roach + 4 & More (1984)

Minor Trouble (Ray Bryant)

18/03/1957 Studio recoding for EmArcy

Max Roach Quintet: Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Bill Wallace (piano), George Morrow (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Jazz in ¾ Time (1957)

Lover (L. Hart, R. Rodgers)

05/04/1957 Studio recording for Riverside Records released on Thelonious Himself (1957)

Thelonious Monk (solo piano)

I Don’t Stand aGhost of a Chance (V. Young, N. Washington)
I Should Care (A. Stordahl, P. Weston, S. Cahn)
‘Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk)
Monk’s Mood (Thelonious Monk)
- With John Coltrane (tenor) and Wilbur Ware (bass)

06/04/1957 Studio recording for Blue Note – A Blowing Session (1957)

Johnny Griffin Septet: Lee Morgan (trumpet), Johnny Griffin + John Coltrane + Hank Mobley (tenors), Wynton Kelly (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

The Way You Look Tonight (J. Kern, D. Fields)
Ball Bearing (Johnny Griffin)
All The Things You Are (J. Kern, O. Hammerstein)
Smoke Stack (Johnny Griffin)

08/04/1957 Studio recording for RCA Victor/Vik released on A Night in Tunisia (1957) not to be confused with the 1961 album of the same name

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers: Bill Hardman (trumpet), Jackie McLean (alto), Johnny Griffin (tenor), Sam Dockery (piano), Spanky DeBrest (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

A Night in Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespie)
Off the Wall (Johnny Griffin)
Theory of Art (Bill Hardman)
Couldn’t It Be You (Art Blakey, Jackie McLean)
Evans (Sonny Rollins)

14/04/1957 Studio recording for Blue Note – Sonny Rollins Vol. 2 (1957)

Sonny Rollins Quintet: J. J. Johnson (trombone), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Horace Silver (piano on all but Reflections), Thelonious Monk (piano on Misterioso and Reflections), Paul Chambers (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Why Don’t I? (Sonny Rollins)
Wail March (Sonny Rollins)
Misterioso (Thelonious Monk, Denzil Best)
- Unusual setting of two pianists
Reflections (Thelonious Monk)
You Stepped Out of a Dream (N. H. Brown, G. Kahn)
Poor Butterfly (R. Hubbell, J. Golden)

16/04/1957 Studio recording for Riverside Records released on Thelonious Himself (1957)

Thelonious Monk (solo piano), John Coltrane (tenor on Monk’s Moods), Wilbur Ware (bass on Monk’s Mood)

April In Paris (V. Duke, Y. Harburg)
Functional (Thelonious Monk)
I’m Getting Sentimental Over You (G. Bassman, N. Washington)
All Alone (I. Berlin)

19/04/1957 Studio recording for Prestige

Mal Waldron Sextet: Bill Hardman (trumpet), Jackie McLean (alto), John Coltrane (tenor), Mal Waldron (piano), Julian Euell (bass), Art Taylor (drums)

Potpourri (Mal Waldron)
J.M.’s Dream Doll (Mal Waldron)
Don’t Explain (A. Herzog Jr., Billie Holiday)
Blue Calypso (Mal Waldron)
Falling In Love With Love (L. Hart, R. Rodgers)

Miles 1957 diary:

4^th – 17^th January: Jazz City, Hollywood

22^nd January – 10^th February: Blackhawk Supper Club, San Francisco

13th February: Syria Mosque, Pittsburgh

15^th – 23^rd February: Peacock Alley, St Louis

27^th February – 10^th March: Preview’s Modern Jazz Room, Chicago

26^th – 31^st March: Comedy Club, Baltimore

5^th – 28^th April: Café Bohemia, New York (last 2 weeks canceled)

During this last stint at Café Bohemia, Miles fired John Coltrane and Philly Joe Jones for their drug use and erratic behavior. Coltrane would go on to spend the second half of 1957 working with Thelonious Monk (more later). Miles meanwhile was about to hit Columbia’s studio for 4 days, working with arranger Gil Evans and a large ensemble to create the album Miles Ahead – released by Columbia in 1957. The album will go down as a masterpiece, and can be considered an example of third stream music in that it draws on ideas from several different musical disciplines and cultures. Miles was understandably angry that the label released the album with a front cover depicting a white woman and child on a sailboat, and later reissues of the LP replaced the photograph with one of the star soloist instead. The pieces were arranged as a suite to run from one to the next, but they didn’t always record the pieces in their correct order. The tracks appear in the order in which they were recorded – but for a better listening experience I recommend listening to the tracks in the order listed on the album.

The personnel for the four sessions are as follows:

Soloist: Miles Davis (trumpet + flugal),

Conductor: Gil Evans (arranger)

Trumpets: Ernie Royal, Bernie Glow, Louis Mucci, Taft Jordan, Johnny Carisi

Trombones: Frank Rehak, Jimmy Cleveland, Joe Bennett, Tom Mitchell

French Horns: Willie Ruff, Tony Miranda (replaced by Jimmy Buffington on the 3^rd sessions only)

Tuba: Bill Barber

Woodwinds: Romeo Penque (flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, oboe), Lee Konitz (alto), Danny Bank (bass clarinet), Sid Cooper (flute, clarinet) – replaced by Eddie Caine on the 4^th session only

R/S: Paul Chambers (bass), Arthur Taylor (drums), Wynton Kelly (piano) – on the 4^th session only

06/05/1957 Studio recording for Columbia (Columbia studio, NY)

Miles Davis with the Gil Evans Orchestra

The Maids of Cadiz (Léo Delibes)
The Duke (Dave Brubeck)

10/05/1957 Studio recording for Columbia (Columbia studio, NY)

Miles Davis with the Gil Evans Orchestra

My Ship (K. Weill, I. Gershwin)
Miles Ahead (Miles Davis, Gil Evans)

14-15/05/1957 Studio recording for Atlantic Records released on Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk (1958)

Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk: Bill Hardman (trumpet), Jonny Griffin (tenor saxophone), Thelonious Monk (piano), Jimmy “Spanky” DeBrest (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Evidence (Thelonious Monk)
In Walked Bud (Thelonious Monk)
Blue Monk (Thelonious Monk)
I Mean You (Thelonious Monk, Coleman Hawkins)
Rhythm-A-Ning (Thelonious Monk)
Purple Shades (Johnny Griffin)
Evidence alt take
Blue Monk alt take
I Mean You alt take

17/05/1957 Studio recording for Prestige

Mal Waldron Sextet: Idrees Sulieman (trumpet), Sahib Shihab (alto), John Coltrane (tenor), Mal Waldron (piano), Julian Euell (bass), Ed Thigpen (drums)

Most of this band would partake in another session this same day.

The Way You Look Tonight (J. Kern, D. Fields)
From This Moment On (C. Porter)
One By One (Mal Waldron)

17/05/1957 Studio recording for Prestige – Cattin’ With Coltrane and Quinichette (1959)

Paul Quinichette/John Coltrane Quintet: Paul Quinichette + John Coltrane (tenors), Mal Waldron (piano), Julian Euell (bass), Ed Thigpen (drums)

Cattin (Mal Waldron)
Sunday (C. Conn, N. Miller, J. Styne)
Exactly Like You (J. McHugh, D. Fields)
- Omit John Coltrane
Anatomy (Mal Waldron)
Vodka (Mal Waldron)
Tea for Two (V. Youmans, I. Caesar)
- Omit John Coltrane

21/05/1957 Studio recording for Riverside – Jazz Contrasts (1957)

Kenny Dorham Quintet: Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Hank Jones (piano), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Falling in Love with Love (L. Hart, R. Rodgers)
I’ll Remember April (G. DePaul, P. Johnston, D. Raye)
But Beautiful (J. Van Heusen, J. Burke)
- Omit Sonny Rollins
La Villa (Kenny Dorham, Gigi Gryce)

23/05/1957 Studio recording for Columbia (Columbia studio, NY)

Miles Davis with the Gil Evans Orchestra

New Rhumba (Ahmed Jamal)
Blues for Pablo (Gil Evans)
Springsville (John Carisi)
- An interesting aside… as well as playing trumpet on these sessions, Carisi was also a composer of note having written Israel (recorded by Miles on the Birth of the Cool sessions as well as Bill Evans and Gerry Mulligan)

27/05/1957 Studio recording for Riverside – Jazz Contrasts (1957)

Kenny Dorham Sextet: Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Betty Glamann (harp), Hank Jones (piano), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Max Roach (drums)

LaRue (Clifford Brown)
- Omit Sonny Rollins
My Old Flame (A. Johnston, S. Coslow)

27/05/1957 Studio recording for Columbia (Columbia studio, NY)

Miles Davis with the Gil Evans Orchestra

I Don’t Wanna Be Kissed (Harold Spina, Jack Elliot)
- This is based on Ahmed Jamal’s arrangement of the tune
Lament (J. J. Johnson)
The Meaning of the Blues (Bobby Troup, Leah Worth)

31/05/1957 Studio recording for Prestige – Coltrane (1957) aka The First Trane

John Coltrane Sextet: Johnnie Splawn (trumpet), John Coltrane (tenor), Sahib Shihab (baritone), Red Garland (piano 1-3), Mal Waldron (piano 4-6), Paul Chambers (bass), Al Heath (drums)

This is Coltrane’s first session as a leader.

Bakai (Calvin Massey)
Violets For Your Furs (T. Adair, M. Dennis)
Time Was (Gabriel Luna de la Fuente, Paz Miguel Prado, Bob Russell)
Straight Street (John Coltrane)
While My Lady Sleeps (G. Kahn, B. Kaper)
Chronic Blues (John Coltrane)

11/06/1957 Studio recording for Riverside – The Sound of Sonny (1957)

Sonny Rollins Quartet: Sonny Rollins (tenor), Sonny Clark (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Roy Haynes (drums)

Dearly Beloved (J. Kern, J. Mercer)
Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye (C. Porter)
It Could Happen To You (J. Van Heusen, Johnny Mercer)
- Solo saxophone

12/06/1957 Studio recording for Riverside – The Sound of Sonny (1957)

Sonny Rollins Quartet: Sonny Rollins (tenor), Sonny Clark (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Roy Haynes (drums)

Just in Time (B. Comden, A. Green, J. Styne)
Toot, Toot, Tootsie (E. Erdman, T. F. Rito, G. Kahn, R. A. King)
Cutie (Sonny Rollins, Neal Hefti, S. Styne)
Mangoes (D. Libby, S. Wayne)

19/06/1957 Studio recording for Riverside – The Sound of Sunny (1957)

Sonny Rollins Quartet: Sonny Rollins (tenor), Sonny Clark (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Roy Haynes (drums)

The Last Time I Saw Paris (O. Hammerstein, J. Kern)
- Omit Sonny Clark
What Is There To Say (V. Duke, E. Y. Harburg)
Funky Hotel Blues (Sonny Rollins)

25-26/06/1957 Studio recording for Riverside Records – Monk’s Music (1957)

Thelonious Monk Septet: Ray Ropeland (trumpet), Gigi Gryce (alto), Coleman Hawkins + John Coltrane (tenors), Thelonious Monk (piano), Wilbur Ware (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Abide With Me (H. F. Lyte, W. H. Monk)
Well, You Needn’t (Thelonious Monk)
Ruby, My Dear (Thelonious Monk)
Off Minor (Theonious Monk)
Epistrophy (Thelonious Monk, Kenny Clarke)
Crepuscule With Nelie (Thelonious Monk)

29/06/1957 Studio recording for Columbia, released on Dave Digs Disney (1957)

Dave Brubeck Quartet: Paul Desmond (alto), Dave Brubeck (piano), Norman Bates (bass), Joe Morello (drums)

Alice In Wonderland (S. Fain, B. Hilliard)
Give A Little Whistle (L. Harline, N. Washington)

30/06/1957

Someday My Prince Will Come (F. Churchill, L. Morey)

These next two recordings were taken a day apart from each other at the same festival and were released on the same album by Verve called At Newport. I think this album offers a good example of two potent but different styles.

05/07/1957 Live recording from Newport Jazz Festival

Gigi Gryce – Donald Byrd Jazz Laboratory: Gigi Gryce (alto), Donald Byrd (trumpet), Hank Jones (piano), Wendell Marshall (bass), Osie Johnson (drums)

Splittin’ aka Ray’s Way (Ray Bryant)
Batland (Lee Sears)
Love For Sale (Cole Porter)

06/07/1957 Live recording from Newport Jazz Festival – At Newport (1958)

Cecil Taylor Quartet: Steve Lacey (soprano), Cecil Taylor (piano), Beull Neidlinger (bass), Denis Charles (drums)

Johnny Come Lately (Billy Strayhorn)
Nona’s Blues (Cecil Taylor)
Tune 2 (Cecil Taylor)

09/07/1957 Studio recording for Jubilee released on Mingus Three (1957)

Charles Mingus Trio: Hampton Hawes (piano except on I Can’t Get Started), Charles Mingus (bass), Danny Richmond (drums), Sonny Clark (piano on I Can’t Get Started)

Yesterdays (O. Harbach, J. Kern)
Back Home Blues (Charles Mingus)
I Can’t Get Started (V. Duke, I. Gershwin)
Hamp’s New Started (Hampton Hawes)
Summertime (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin, D. Heyward)
Dizzy Moods (Charles Mingus)
Laura (J. Mercer, D. Raksin)

18/07/1957 Studio recording for RCA released on Tijuana Moods (1962)

Charles Mingus Sextet: Clarence Shaw (trumpet), Jimmy Knepper (trombone), Curtis Porter (alto + tenor), Bill Triglia (piano), Charles Mingus (bass), Dannie Richmond (drums)

Dizzy Moods
Ysabel’s Table Dance
- Frankie Dunlop (castenets) and Ysabel Morel (vocals)
Los Mariachis

July 1957 Studio recording for Riverside Records released on Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane (1961)

Thelonious Monk Quartet: John Coltrane (tenor), Thelonious Monk (piano), Wilbur Ware (bass), Shadow Wilson (drums)

Ruby, My Dear (Thelonious Monk)
Trinkle Tinkle (Thelonious Monk)
Nutty (Thelonious Monk)

Late Jule/Early August 1957 Live recording from the Five Spot Café (New York)

Thelonious Monk Quartet: John Coltrane (tenor), Thelonious Monk (piano), Wilbur Ware (bass), Shadow Wilson (drums)

Ruby, My Dear (Thelonious Monk)
Nutty (Thelonious Monk)

03/08/1957 Studio recording for Columbia – Dave Digs Disney (1957)

Dave Brubeck Quartet: Paul Desmond (alto), Dave Brubeck (piano), Norman Bates (bass), Joe Morello (drums)

Heigh-Ho (F. Churchill, L. Morey)
When You Wish Upon A Star (L. Harline, N. Washigton)
One Song (F. Churchill, L. Morey)

03/08/1957 Studio recording for Blue Note released on The Amazing Bud Powell Vol.3 – Bud! (1957)

Bud Powell Quartet: Bud Powell (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Art Taylor (drums), Curtis Fuller (trombone on #6-8)

Some Soul (Bud Powell)
Blue Pearl (Bud Powell)
Frantic Fancies (Bud Powell)
Bud on Bach (Bud Powell)
Keepin’ in the Groove (Bud Powell)
Idaho (Jesse Stone)
Don’t Blame Me (J. McHugh, D. Fields)
Moose the Mooch (Charlie Parker)
Blue Pearl alt take (Bud Powell)

06/08/1957 Studio recording for RCA released on Tijuana Moods (1962)

Charles Mingus Sextet: Clarence Shaw (trumpet), Jimmy Knepper (trombone), Curtis Porter (alto + tenor), Bill Triglia (piano), Charles Mingus (bass), Dannie Richmond (drums)

Flamingo
A Colloquial Dream
- Frankie Dunlop (tambourine) and Lonnie Elder (narration)
Tijuana Gift Shop

12-13/08/1957 Studio recording for Riverside Records released on Mulligan Meets Monk (1957)

Thelonious Monk and Gerry Mulligan: Gerry Mulligan (baritone), Thelonious Monk (piano), Wilbur Ware (bass), Shadow Wilson (drums)

‘Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk)
Rhythm-a-Ning (Thelonious Monk)
- Interesting arrangement whereby they double the length of each B section of the AABA form
Sweet and Lovely (G. Arnheim, J. LeMare, H. Tobias)
Decidedly (Gerry Mulligan)
Straight, No Chaser (Thelonious Monk)
I Mean You (Thelonious Monk, Coleman Hawkins)

16/08/1957 Studio recording for Bethlehem released on East Coasting (1957)

Charles Mingus Sextet: Clarence Shaw (trumpet), Jimmy Knepper (trombone), Curtis Porter (alto + tenor), Bill Evans (piano), Charles Mingus (bass), Danny Richmond (drums)

Memories of You (E. Blake, A. Razaf)
East Coasting (Charles Mingus)
West Coast Ghost (Charles Mingus)
Celia (Charles Mingus)
Conversation (Charles Mingus)
Fifty-First Street Blues (Charles Mingus)

16/08/1957 Studio recording for Prestige

John Coltrane Trio: John Coltrane (tenor), Earl May (bass), Arthur Taylor (drums)

Trane’s Slow Blues (John Coltrane)
Slowtrane (John Coltrane)
Like Someone in Love (J. Van Heusen)
I Love You (C. Porter)

October 1957 Studio recording for Bethlehem released on A Modern Jazz Symposium Of Music And Poetry With Charlie Mingus (1959)

Charles Mingus Orchestra: Clarence Shaw (trumpet), Jimmy Knepper (trombone), Curtis Porter (alto + tenor), Horace Parlan (piano), Charles Mingus (bass), Danny Richmond (drums),

Slippers (Charles Mingus)
Scenes In the City (Charles Mingus)
- Melvin Stewart (narration), Bob Hammer (additional piano)
Nourog (Charles Mingus)
- Bill Hardman replaces Clarence Shaw on trumpet
New York Sketchbook (Charles Mingus)
- Bob Hammer (additional piano)
Duke’s Choice (Charles Mingus)

23/08/1957 Studio recoding for Prestige – John Coltrane with the Red Garland Trio (1958)

John Coltrane w/ Red Garland Trio: John Coltrane (tenor), Red Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Arthur Taylor (drums)

Traneing In (John Coltrane)
Slow Dance (Alonzo Levister)
Bass Blues (John Coltrane)
You Leave Me Breathless (R. Freed, F. Hollaender)
Soft Lights and Sweet Music (I. Berlin)

01/09/1957 Studio recording for Blue Note – Sonny’s Crib (1958)

Sonny Clark Sextet: Donald Byrd (trumpet), Curtis Fuller (trombone), John Coltrane (tenor), Sonny Clark (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Arthur Taylor (drums)

With a Song in My Heart (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)
Speak Low (K. Weill, O. Nash)
Come Rain or Come Shine (H. Arlen, J. Mercer)
Sonny’s Crib (Sonny Clark)
News for Lulu (Sonny Clark)

15/09/1957 Studio recording for Blue Note – Blue Train (1958)

John Coltrane Sextet: Lee Morgan (trumpet), Curtis Fuller (trombone), John Coltrane (tenor), Kenny Drew (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Philly Joe Jones (drums)

Blue Train (John Coltrane)
Moment’s Notice (John Coltrane)
Locomotion (John Coltrane)
I’m Old Fashioned (J. Kern, J. Mercer)
Lazy Bird (John Coltrane)

22/09/1957 Studio recording for Blue Note – Newk’s Time (1959)

Sonny Rollins Quartet: Sonny Rollins (tenor), Wynton Kelly (piano), Doug Watkins (bass), “Philly” Joe Jones (drums)

Tune Up (Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson)
Asiatic Raes aka Lotus Blossom (Kenny Dorham)
Wonderful! Wonderful! (S. Edwards, Ben Raleigh)
The Surrey with the Fringe on Top (R. Rodgers, O. Hamerstein)
- Sax/drums duet
Blues for Philly Joe (Sonny Rollins)
Namely You (G. de Paul, J. Mercer)

17-30/10/1957 Live radio broadcasts from Birdland (New York)

Miles Davis Quintet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Bobby Jasper (tenor + flute), Tommy Flanagan (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), “Philly” Joe Jones (drums)

Miles returned to performing live with his quintet, but with Sonny Rollins and Arthur Taylor replacing John Coltrane and Philly Joe Jones on tenor and drums respectively. He took some time out around September 1957 for surgery and the quintet personnel started to change. Sonny Rollins left to focus on his own project and Miles fired Arthur Taylor and Red Garland. Bobby Jasper (tenor and flute) replaced Rollins but would later be replaced by Cannonball Adderley (alto), Tommy Flanagan replaced Garland and Jimmy Cobb briefly replaced Arthur Taylor before Philly Joe Jones returned to the drum chair. This is a live radio broadcast recording of this line up from a stint at Birdland in October 1957.

All of You (C. Porter)
- Incorrectly announced as All of Me
Four (Eddie Vinson)
Nature Boy (E. Ahbez)
A Night in Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespie)

28/10/1957 Studio album for Riverside – That’s Him! (1957)

Abbey Lincoln: Abbey Lincoln (vocals), Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Wynton Kelly (piano) Paul Chambers (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Strong Man (Oscar Brown Jr.)
Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe (H. Arlen, E. Y. Harburg)
My Man (J. Charles, C. Pollack, A. Willemetz, M. Yvain)
Temder as a Rose (Phil Moore)
That’s Him (O. Nash, K. Weil)
I Must Have That Man! (D. Fields, J. McHugh)
Porgy (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin, D.B. Heyward)
When A Woman Loves a Man (B. Hanighen, G. Jenkins, J. Mercer)
Don’t Explain (A. Herzog Jr., Billie Holiday)
- Omit Paul Chambers. Wynton Kelly plays bass!
Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man (J. Kern, O. Hammerstein)
- Omit Kenny Dorham, Sonny Rollins and Max Roach)
- Not released on original album

03/11/1957 Live recording for Blue Note from the Village Vanguard (New York) – A Night at the Village Vanguard (1958, expanded edition in 1999)

Afternoon Set

Sonny Rollins Trio: Sonny Rollins (tenor), Donald Bailey (bass), Pete La Roca (drums)

A Night in Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespie)
I’ve Got You Under My Skin (C. Porter)

Evening Set

Sonny Rollins Trio: Sonny Rollins (tenor), Wilbur Ware (bass), Elvin Jones (drums)

A Night in Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespie)
Softly as in a Morning Sunrise (O. Hammerstein, S. Romberg)
Four (Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson)
introduction
Woody ‘n’ You (Dizzy Gillespie)
introduction
Old Devil Moon (E. Y. Harburg, B. Lane)
What Is This Thing Called Love (C. Porter)
Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise (O. Hammerstein, S. Romberg)
Sonnymoon for Two (Sonny Rollins)
I Can’t Get Started (I. Gershwin, V. Duke)
I’ll Remember April (D. Raye, P. Johnston, G. de Paul)
Get Happy (T. Koehler, H. Arlen)
Striver’s Row (Sonny Rollins)
All the Things You Are (O. Hammerstein, J. Kern)
Get Happy (T. Koehler, H. Arlen)

04/11/1957 Studio recording for Period – Sonny Rollins Plays

Sonny Rollins Quintet: Jimmy Cleveland (trombone), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Gil Coggins (piano), Wendell Marshall (bass), Kenny Dennis (drums)

Sonnymoon For Two (Sonny Rollins)
Like Someone In Love (J. Van Heusen, J. Burke)
Theme From Pathetique Symphone (Tchaikovsky, Sonny Rollins)

15/11/1957 Studio recording for Prestige released on All Mornin’ Long (1957), Soul Junction (1960) and High Pressure (1961)

Red Garland Quintet ft Donald Byrd and John Coltrane: Donald Byrd (trumpet), John Coltrane (tenor), Red Garland (piano), George Joyner (bass), Arthur Taylor (drums)

All Mornin’ Long (1957)

All Mornin’ Long (Red Garland)
They Can’t Take That Away From Me (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
Our Delight (Tadd Dameron)

Soul Junction (1960)

Soul Junction (Red Garland)
Woody ‘n’ You (Dizzy Gillespie)
Birk’s Works (Dizzy Gillespie)
I’ve Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good) (Duke Ellington, P. F. Webster)
Hallelujah (V. Youmans)

High Pressure (1961)

Undecided (Sir Robin, Charlie Shavers)
What Is There to Say (V. Duke, Y. Harburg)

29/11/1957 Live recording from Carnegie Hall, New York, released by Blue Note on Thelonious Monk Quartet With John Coltrane At Carnegie Hall (2005)

Thelonious Monk Quartet: John Coltrane (tenor), Thelonious Monk (piano), Ahmed Abdul-Malik (bass), Shadow Wilson (drums)

Monk’s Mood (Thelonious Monk)
Evidence (Thelonious Monk)
Crepuscule With Nelie (Thelonious Monk)
Nutty (Thelonious Monk)
Epistrophy (Thelonious Monk, Kenny Clarke)
Bye-Ya (Thelonious Monk)
Sweet and Lovely (G. Arnheim, H. Tobias, J. LeMare)
Blue Monk (Thelonious Monk)
Epistrohpy (Thelonious Monk)

30/11/1957 Broadcast recording from the Olympia Theatre, Paris

René Urtreger Quartet with Miles Davis: Miles Davis (trumpet), Barney Wilen (tenor), René Urtreger (piano), Pierre Michelot (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums)

Miles returned to Europe, flying to Paris at the end of November for a date the Olympia. Miles sounds exceptionally strong in the upper register on these recordings (even when we take into account that the recordings are about a semi-tone sharp).

Bags’ Groove (Milt Jackson)
Tune Up (Eddie Vinson)
Four (Eddie Vinson)
Walkin’ (R. Carpenter)
No Moe (Sonny Rollins)
‘Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk)

Miles remained in Paris for a few weeks and performed several other dates and recording sessions with René Urtreger’s Quartet, plus a date in Amsterdam and Stuttgart. Some recordings are available:

??/12/1957 Bootleg recording from unknown venue in France

René Urtreger Quartet with Miles Davis: Miles Davis (trumpet), Barney Wilen (tenor), René Urtreger (piano), Pierre Michelot (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums)

Lady Bird (Tadd Dameron)

Whilst in Paris, Miles was invited to record a soundtrack for Louis Malle’s 1958 film Ascenseur pour l’échafaud. Miles agreed and brought the band he had been guesting with. Apparently Miles just brought a few rough harmonic ideas for the band to improvise over. The results are interesting because some of the tracks are perhaps Miles’ earliest ‘modal’ jazz recordings.

04-05/12/1957 Studio recording for the film Ascenseur pour l’échafaud

René Urtreger Quartet with Miles Davis: Miles Davis (trumpet), Barney Wilen (tenor), René Urtreger (piano), Pierre Michelot (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums)

Générique
L’ Assassinat de Carala
Sur L’Autoroute
- Up-tempo improvising over the changes to Sweet Georgia Brown. Miles sounding very fluent on this fast tempo!
Julien Dans L’Ascenseur
Florence Sur Les Champs Élysées
Dîner au Motel
- Up-tempo blues
Évasion De Julien
Visite Du Vigile
Au Bar du Petit Bac
Chez Le Photographe Du Motel

08/12/1957 Live recording from the Concertgebouw (Amsterdam)

René Urtreger Quartet with Miles Davis: Miles Davis (trumpet), Barney Wilen (tenor), René Urtreger (piano), Pierre Michelot (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums)

Woody ‘N’ You (Dizzy Gillespie)
Bag’s Groove (Milt Jackson)
What’s New (J. Burke, B. Haggart)
But Not for Me (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
A Night in Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespie)
Four (Eddie Vinson)
Walkin’ (R. Carpenter)
Well, You Needn’t (Thelonious Monk)
‘Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk)
Lady Bird (Tadd Dameron)

11/12/1957 Studio recording for Verve – Duets (1958)

Dizzy Gillespie w/ Sonny Rollins & Sonny Stitt: Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet), Sonny Stitt (alto + tenor) Ray Bryant (piano), Tom Bryant (bass), Charlie Persip (drums)

With Sonny Rollins

Wheatleigh Hall (Dizzy Gillespie)
Sumphin’ (Dizzy Gillespie)

With Sonny Stitt

Con Alma (Dizzy Gillespie)
Haute Mon’ (Dizzy Gillespie)

13/12/1957 Studio recording for Prestige released on High Pressure (1961) & Dig It (1962)

Red Garland Quintet ft Donald Byrd & John Coltrane: Donald Byrd (trumpet), John Coltrane (tenor), Red Garland (piano), George Joyner (bass), Arthur Taylor (drums)

High Pressure (1961)

Soft Winds (Benny Goodman, Fletcher Henderson)
Solitude (Duke Ellington, E. DeLange, I. Mills)
Two Bass Hit (Dizzy Gillespie, John Lewis)

Dig It (1961)

Billie’s Bounce (Charlie Parker)
Lazy Mae (Red Garland)

??/12/1957 Studio recording for Bethlehem released on Art Blakey Big Band (1959)

Art Blakey Big Band:

Trumpets: Ray Copeland, Bill Hardman, Idrees Sulieman, Donald Byrd

Trombones: Frank Rehak, Jimmy Cleveland, Melba Liston

Reeds: Bill Graham + Sahib Shihab (altos), Al Cohn + John Coltrane (tenors), Bill Slapin (baritone)

RS: Walter Bishop Jr. (piano), Wendell Marshall (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Midriff (Gerald Valentine)
Ain’t Life Grand (Al Cohn)
Tippin (Donald Byrd)
- Quartet: rhythm section + Donald Byrd and John Coltrane
Pristine (John Coltrane)
- Quartet: rhythm section + Donald Byrd and John Coltrane
El Toro Valiente (Charles Gambel, Chiefy Salaam)
The Kiss of No Return (Charles Gambel, Chiefy Salaam)
Late Date (Melba Liston)
The Outer World (Al Cohn)

19/12/1957 Studio recording for Verve – Sonny Side Up (1959)

Dizzy Gillespie w/ Sonny Rollins & Sonny Stitt: Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet), Sonny Rollins (tenor), Sonny Stitt (tenor), Ray Bryant (piano), Tom Bryant (bass), Charlie Persip (drums)

On the Sunny Side of the Street (J. McHugh, D. Fields)
The Eternal Triangle (Sonny Stitt)
After Hours (Avery Parish)
I Know That You Know (V. Youmans, A. Caldwell)

20/12/1957 Studio recording for New Jazz (Prestige) – The Ray Draper Quintet featuring John Coltrane (1958)

Ray Draper Quintet ft John Coltrane: John Coltrane (tenor), Ray Draper (tuba), Gil Coggins (piano), Spanky De Brest (bass), Larry Ritchie (drums)

Clifford’s Kappa (Ray Draper)
Filidé (Ray Raper)
Two Sons (Ray Draper)
Paul’s Pal (Sonny Rollins)
Under Paris Skies (J. A. Brun, K. Gannon, H. Giraud)
I Hadn’t Anyone Till You (R. Noble)
- Omit John Coltrane

Late 1957 or early 1958 Studio recording for Saturn released on Sun Ra and his Solar Arkestra Visits Planet Earth (1966)

Sun Ra and his Solar Arkestra: Lucious Randolph (trumpet), Nate Pryor (trombone), James Spaulding (alto), Marshall Allen (alto + flute), John Gilmore (tenor + percussion), Pat Patrick (baritone + alto + ‘space lute’ + percussion), Charles Davis (baritone), Sun Ra (piano + Wurlitzer + percussion), Ronnie Boykins (bass), Robert Barry (drums), JimHerndon (timpani)

Planet Earth (Sun Ra)
Eve (Sun Ra)
Overtones of China (Sun Ra)

Miles Diary:

2^nd – 15^th January: Birdland, New York

21^st – 26^th January: The Continental, New York

03/01/1958 Studio recording for Prestige – The Big Sound (1958) & Groove Blues (1958)

Gene Ammons’ All Stars: Jerome Richardson (flute), John Coltrane (alto!), Gene Ammons + Paul Quinichette (tenors), Pepper Adams (baritone), Mal Waldron (piano), George Joyner (bass), Arthur Taylor (drums)

Ammon Joy (Mal Waldron)
Groove Blues (Mal Waldron)
The Real McCoy (Mal Waldron)
It Might As Well Be Spring (R. Rodgers, O. Hammerstein)

10/01/1958 Studio recording for Prestige

John Coltrane Quintet: Donald Byrd (trumpet), John Coltrane (tenor), Red Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Louis Hayes (drums)

Lush Life (Billy Strayhorn)
The Believer (McCoy Tyner)
Nakatini Serenade (Calvin Massey)
Come Rain or Come Shine (H. Arlen, J. Mercer)
Lover (L. Hart, R. Rodgers)

04/02/1958 Studio recording for Columbia (released on Milestones – 1958)

Miles Davis Sextet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Jullian “Cannonball” Adderley (alto), John Coltrane (tenor), William “Red” Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), “Philly” Joe Jones (drums)

Two Bass Hit (John Lewis, Dizzy Gillespie)
- Listen to the backing figures behind the two sax solos. They originate from the Earl Hine’s 1942 recording of Second Balcony Jump and then adapted by Billy Eckstine’s band for their 1946 recording of the same tune. I imagine that this wasn’t a fixed arrangement as such, but one that probably developed through so much gigging.
Billy Boy (trad)
Straight, No Chaser (Thelonious Monk)
Milestones (Miles Davis)

07/02/1958 Studio recording for Prestige – Soultrane (1958)

John Coltrane with the Red Garland Trio: John Coltrane (tenor), Red Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Arthur Taylor (drums)

Good Bait (Tadd Dameron, Count Basie)
I Want to Talk About You (Billy Eckstine)
You Say You Care (L. Robin, J. Stune)
Theme for Ernie (Fred Lacey aka Nasir Barakaat)
Russian Lullaby (I. Berlin)

10/02/1958 Studio recording for Contemporary released on Something Else!!!! The Music of Ornette Coleman (1958)

Ornette Coleman Quintet: Don Cherry (cornet), Ornette Coleman (alto), Walter Norris (piano), Don Payne (bass), Billy Higgins (drums)

Invisible (Ornette Coleman)
The Blessing (Ornette Coleman)
Jayne (Ornette Coleman)

11/02/1958 Studio recoding for Riverside – Freedom Suite (1958)

Sonny Rollins Trio: Sonny Rollins (tenor), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Max Roach (drums)

Someday I’ll Find You (N. Coward)
Will You Still Be Mine? (T. Adair, Matt Dennis)
Till There Was You (M. Willson)
Shadow Waltz (A. Dublin, H. Warren)

22/02/1958 Studio recording for Contemporary released on Something Else!!!! The Music of Ornette Coleman (1958)

Ornette Coleman Quintet: Don Cherry (cornet), Ornette Coleman (alto), Walter Norris (piano), Don Payne (bass), Billy Higgins (drums)

Chippie (Ornette Coleman)
The Disguise (Ornette Coleman)
Angel Voice (Ornette Coleman)

Miles Diary

10^th – 15^th February: Lenny Litman’s Copa, Pittsburgh

16^th February: Town Hall, Philadelphia

04/03/1958 Studio session for Columbia (released on Milestones – 1958)

Miles Davis Sextet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Julian “Cannonball” Adderley (alto), John Coltrane (tenor), William “Red” Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), “Philly” Joe Jones (drums)

Dr. Jackle (Jackie McLean)
- Listen out for that phrase Miles has been frequently playing on the blues. Here he seems to be using it as a cue to start some trades with drums (they catch it the second time)
Sid’s Ahead aka Weirdo (Miles Davis)
- This is really Richard Carpenter’s Walkin. Miles plays piano when not on trumpet here. The most common reason given is that he and Red Garland argued, causing the pianist to leave.
Little Melonae (Jackie McLean)
- This track wasn’t released on Milestones and was probably never meant to be. It seems this was a reattempt of the tune from a 1955 quintet session, and Adderley is out. I’ve included the recording that I’m fairly sure is from this session…

07/03/1958 Studio recording for Riverside – Freedom Suite (1958)

Sonny Rollins Trio: Sonny Rollins (tenor), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Max Roach (drums)

The Freedom Suite (Sonny Rollins)

07/03/1958 Studio recording for New Jazz (Prestige) – Kenny Burrell & John Coltrane (1963)

John Coltrane w/ Kenny Burrell Quintet: John Coltrane (tenor), Kenny Burrell (guitar), Tommy Flanagan (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums)

Freight Trane (Tommy Flanagan)
I Never Knew (T. F. Rito, G. Kahn)
Lyresto (Kenny Burrell)
Why Was I Born? (J. Kern, O. Hammerstein)
Big Paul (Tommy Flanagan)

09/03/1958 Studio session for Blue Note – Somethin’ Else (1958)

Cannonball Adderley All-Stars: Julian “Cannonball” Adderley (alto), Miles Davis (trumpet), Hank Jones (piano), Sam Jones (bass), Art Blakey (drums)

Autumn Leaves (J. Prevert, J. Mercer, J. Kosma)
Love For Sale (C. Porter)
Somethin’ Else (Miles Davis)
One for Daddy-O (Nat Adderley)
Dancing in the Dark (H. Dietz, A. Schwartz)
Bangoon aka Alison’s Uncle (Hank Jones / Nat Adderley)

13/03/1958 Studio session for Savoy – Mainstream 1958: The East Coast Jazz Scene (1958)

Wilbur Harden Quintet: Wilbur Haden (flugelhorn), John Coltrane (tenor), Tommy Flanagan (piano), Doug Watkins (bass), Louis Hayes (drums)

Wells Fargo (Wilbur Harden)
West 42^nd St. (Wilbur Harden)
E.F.F.P.H (Wilbur Harden)
Snuffy (Wilbur Harden)
Rhodomagnetics (Wilbur Harden)

18/03/1958 Studio recording for MGM – Weary Blues (1958)

Langston Hughes with Leonard Feather: Langston Hughes (poetry and narration), Red Allen (trumpet), Vic Dickenson (trombone), Sam Taylor (tenor + clarinet), Al Williams (piano), Milt Hinton (bass), Osie Johnson (drums), Leonard Feather (arranger)

Blues Montage: Opening Blues/Blues Montage/ Commercial Theatre/Morning After/Could Be/Testament

Langston Hughes with Charles Mingus: Langston Hughes (poetry and narration), Jimmy Knepper (trombone), Shafi Hadi (tenor), Charles Mingus (bass + arrangements), Horace Parlan (piano), Kenny Dennis (drums)

Consider Me: The Stranger/Midnight Stroll/ Backstage
Dream Montage: Weird Nightmare/Double G Train/Jump Monk

24/03/1958 Studio recording for Contemporary released on Something Else!!!! The Music of Ornette Coleman (1958)

Ornette Coleman Quintet: Don Cherry (cornet), Ornette Coleman (alto), Walter Norris (piano), Don Payne (bass), Billy Higgins (drums)

Alpha (Ornette Coleman)
When Will The Blues Leave (Ornette Coleman)
The Sphinx (Ornette Coleman)

26/03/1958 Studio recording for Prestige – Settin’ The Pace (1961)

John Coltrane w/ Red Garland Trio: John Coltrane (tenor), Red Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Arthur Taylor (drums)

I See Your Face Before Me (H. Dietz, A. Schwartz)
If There Is Someone Lovelier Than You (H. Dietz, A. Schwartz)
Little Melonae (Jackie McLean)
Rise ‘n’ Shine (B. DeSylva, V. Youmans)
By the Numbers (John Coltrane)
- Not released on this album

07&12/05/1958 Studio recording for Riverside released on In Orbit (1958)

Clark Terry Quartet with Thelonious Monk: Clark Terry (flugal), Thelonious Monk (piano), Sam Jones (bass), Philly Joe Jones (drums)

In Orbit (Clark Terry)
One Foot in the Gutter (Clark Terry)
Trust Me (Wever, Schwartz, Ager)
Let’s Cool One (Thelonious Monk)
Pea-Eye (Clark Terry)
Argentina (Clark Terry)
Moonlight Fiesta (Mills, Juan Tizol)
Buck’s Business (Clark Terry)
Very Near Blue (S. Cassey)
Flugelin’ The Blues (Clark Terry)

13/05/1958 Studio recording for Savoy – Tanganyika Strut (1958)

Wilbur Harden Sextet: Wilbur Harden (flugelhorn), Curtis Fuller (trombone), John Coltrane (tenor), Howard Williams (piano), Alvin Jackson (bass), Arthur Taylor (drums)

B.J. (Wilbur Harden)
Anedac (Wilbur Harden)
Once in a While (M. Edwards, B. Green)

Miles Diary:

17^th – 22^nd March: Pep’s, Philadelphia

5^th April: Town Hall, Philadelphia

7^th – 13^th April: Modern Jazz Room, Cleveland

15^th – 20^th April: Clarence’s Blue Bird Inn, Detroit

Miles then replaced pianist Red Garland with Bill Evans and the band continued:

25^th April – 4^th May: Café Bohemia, New York

5^th – 11^th May: Storyville, Boston

12^th – 18^th May: Café Bohemia, New York

17/05/1958 Live radio broadcast from Café Bohemia

Miles Davis Quintet: Miles Davis (trumpet), John Coltrane (tenor), Bill Evans (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), “Philly” Joe Jones (drums)

Four (Eddie Vinson)
Bye Bye Blackbird (R. Henderson, M. Dixon)
Walkin’ (R. Carpenter)
Two Bass Hit (John Lewis, Dizzy Gillespie)

Philly Joe Jones then left to form his own group, and was replaced by Jimmy Cobb.

20^th – 25^th May: Red Hill Inn, New Jersey

23/05/1958 Studio session for Prestige – Black Pearls (1964)

John Coltrane Quintet: Donald Byrd (trumpet), John Coltrane (tenor), Red Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Arthur Taylor (drums)

Black Pearls (John Coltrane)
Lover, Come Back to Me (S. Romberg, O. Hammerstein)
Sweet Sapphire Blues (Bob Weinstock)

24/05/1958 Studio recording for Blue Note released on Time Waits: The Amazing Bud Powell Vol. 4 (1958)

Bud Powell Trio: Bud Powell (piano), Sam Jones (bass), Philly Joe Jones (drums)

Buster Rides Again (Bud Powell)
Sub City (Bud Powell)
Time Waits (Bud Powell)
Marmalade (Bud Powell)
Monopoly (Bud Powell)
John’s Abbey (Bud Powell)
Dry Soul (Bud Powell)
Sub City alt take (Bud Powell)
John’s Abbey alt take (Bud Powell)

26/05/1958 Studio session for Columbia (released in 1974 on 1958 Miles)

Miles Davis Sextet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Julian “Cannonball” Adderley (alto), John Coltrane (tenor), Bill Evans (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums)

On Green Dolphin Street (N. Washington, B. Kaper)
Fran Dance (Miles Davis)
Stella by Starlight (N. Washington, V. Young)
Love for Sale (C. Porter)

Miles Diary

27^th May – 1^st June: Village Vanguard, New York

10^th – 15^th June: Spotlite Lounge, Washington DC

24^th – 29^th June: Small’s Paradise, New York

09/06/1958 Studio session for Contemporary (released on Looking Ahead! – 1959)

Cecil Taylor Quartet: Earl Smith (vibraphone), Cecil Taylor (piano), Bueil Neidlinger (bass), Denis Charles (drums)

Luyah! The Glorious Step (Cecil Taylor)
African Violets (Earl Griffith, Cecil Taylor)
Of What (Cecil Taylor)
Wallering (Cecil Taylor)
Toll (Cecil Taylor)
Excursion on a Wobbly Rail (Cecil Taylor)

24/06/1958 Studio session for Savoy – Jazz Way Out (1958)

Wilbur Harden Sextet: Wilbur Harden (flugelhorn), Curtis Fuller (trombone), John Coltrane (tenor), Tommy Flanagan (piano), Ali Jackson (bass), Arthur Taylor (drums)

Dial Africa (Wilbur Harden)
Oomba (Wilbur Harden)
Gold Coast (Curtis Fuller)
Tanganyika Strut (Curtis Fuller)
- Released on the album Tanganyika Strut

25/06/1958 Studio session for Columbia

Michel Legrand Orchestra: Miles Davis (trumpet), John Coltrane (tenor), Phil Woods (alto), Jerome Richardson (bass sax, bass clarinet), Herbie Mann (flute), Barry Galbraith (guitar), Betty Glamann (harp), Eddie Costa (vibraphone), Bill Evans (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Kenny Dennis (drums), Michel Legrand (arranger, conducter)

Wild Man Blues (Louis Armstrong, F. Morton)
‘Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk)
The Jitterbug Waltz (Fats Waller)
Django (John Lewis)

03/07/1958 Live recording for Columbia from Newport Jazz Festival

Miles Davis Sextet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Julian “Cannonball” Adderley (alto), John Coltrane (tenor), Bill Evans (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums)

Intro from Willis Conover
Ah-Leu-Cha (Charlie Parker)
- They play an interesting arrangement of this Parker rhythm changes, expanding the form during the heads. Usually this follows an AABA structure, but they interrupt this form with eight bar drum breaks (marked D here): ADABDA
Straight, No Chaser (Thelonious Monk)
Fran Dance (Miles Davis)
Two Bass Hit (John Lewis, Dizzy Gillespie)
Bye Bye Blackbird (R. Henderson, M. Dixon)
The Theme (Miles Davis)

09/07/1958 Live recording for Riverside Records from the Five Spot Café unreleased until later extended CD reissue

Thelonious Monk Quartet: Johnny Griffin (tenor), Thelonious Monk (piano), Ahmed-Abdul Malik (bass), Roy Haynes (Drums)

Evidence (Thelonious Monk)
Blues Five Spot (Thelonious Monk)
In Walked Bud/Epistrophy (Thelonious Monk, Kenny Clarke)
Sweet Stranger aka unidentified solo piano
‘Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk)
Bye-Ya/Epistrophy (Thelonious Monk, Kenny Clarke)
- Art Blakey replaces Roy Haynes on drums)

10/07/1958 Studio recording for MetroJazz – Sonny Rollins and the Big Brass (1958)

Sonny Rollins Trio: Sonny Rollins (tenor), Henry Grimes (bass), Charles Wright (drums)

What’s My Name? (D. Saxton, R. Wells)
If You Were The Only Girl In The World (N. Ayer, C. Grey)
Manhattan (L. Hart, R. Rodgers)
Body and Soul (F. Eyton, J. Green, E. Heyman, R. Sour)

11/07/1958 Studio recording for MetroJazz – Sonny Rollins and the Big Brass (1958)

Sonny Rollins and The Big Brass:

Trumpets: Nat Adderley (cornet), Reunald Jones, Ernie Royal, Clark Terry

Trombones: Billy Byers, Jimmy Cleveland, Frank Rehak, Don Butterfield (tuba)

Reeds: Sonny Rollins (tenor)

RS: Dick Katz (piano), Rene Thomas (guitar), Henry Grimes (bass), Roy Haynes (drums)

Conductor/Arranger: Ernie Wilkins

Grand Street (Sonny Rollins)
Far Out East (Ernie Wilkins)
Who Cares? (I. Gershwin, G. Gershwin)
Love Is A Simple Things (J. Carroll, A. Siegel)

11/07/1958 Studio session for Prestige

John Coltrane Quintet: Wilbur Harden (trumpet + flugelhorn), Red Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums)

Standard Coltrane (1962)

Don’t Take Your Love From Me (H. Nemo)
I’ll Get By (F. Ahlert, Roy Turk)
Spring Is Here (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)
Invitation (B. Kaper, P. F. Webster)

Stardust (1963)

Stardust (H. Carmichael, M. Parish)
Love Thy Neighbor (M. Gordon, H. Revel)

Bahia (1965)

My Ideal (R. Whiting, N. Chase, L. Robin)
I’m a Dreamer, Aren’t We All (R. Henderson, B. De Sylva)

Miles

Miles’ next big project for Columbia was another collaboration with Gil Evans – an adaption of George Gershwin’s Opera Porgy and Bess. The first session (there would be four) was on the same day Miles’ sextet started a residency at the Village Vanguard in New York. The album would be released in 1959.

The personnel for these sessions was as follows:

Soloist: Miles Davis (trumpet + flugal)

Conductor: Gil Evans (and arrangements)

Trumpets: Ernie Royal, Johnny Coles, Bernie Glow, Louis Mucci

Trombones: Joe Bennett, Frank Rehak, Jimmy Cleveland, Dick Hixon

French Horns: Willie Ruff, Julius Watkins, Gunther Schuller

Tuba: Bill Barber

Woodwinds: Julian “Cannonball” Adderley (alto), Romeo Penque (flute, alto flute, clarinet), Danny Bank (alto flute, bass clarinet), Phil Bodner* (flute, alto flute, clarinet),

Rhythm section: Paul Chambers (bass), Philly Joe Jones* (drums)

*Phil Bodner and Philly Joe Jones are replaced for sessions 3 and 4 by Jerome Richardson and Jimmy Cobb respectively.

22/07/1958 Studio recording for Columbia – Porgy and Bess

Miles Davis with the Gil Evans Orchestra

Gone (Gil Evans)
- Alternate take 4 included on reissue
Gone, Gone, Gone (D. Heyward, G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
My Man’s Gone Now (D. Heyward, G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)

25/07/1958 Studio album for Columbia, released on Jazz Impressions Of Eurasia (1958)

Dave Brubeck Quartet: Paul Desmond (alto), Dave Brubeck (piano), Joe Benjamin (bass), Joe Morello (drums)

Nomad (Dave Brubeck, Iola Brubeck)
Marble Arch (Dave Brubeck)

Miles Diary

22^nd July – 3^rd August: Village Vanguard, New York

29/07/1958 Studio recording for Columbia – Porgy and Bess

Miles Davis with the Gil Evans Orchestra

Bess, You is My Woman Now (G. Gershwin)
Fisherman, Strawberry, and Devil Crab (G. Gershwin)
It Ain’t Necessarily So (G. Gershwin)
Here Come de Honey Man (G. Gershwin)

03/08/1958 Live recording from Music Inn (Lenox, Massachusetts) for Metrojazz – Sonny Rollins At Music Inn/Teddy Edwards At Falcon’s Lair With Joe Castro (1958)

Sonny Rollins with John Lewis Trio: Sonny Rollins (tenor), John Lewis (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Connie Kay (drums)

Doxy (Sonny Rollins)
Limehouse Blues (P. Brahman, D. Furber)
I’ll Follow My Secret Heart (N. Coward)
You Are Too Beautiful (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)

04/08/1958 Studio recording for Columbia – Porgy and Bess

Miles Davis with the Gil Evans Orchestra

Buzzard Song (G. Gershwin)
Summertime (G. Gershwin)
Oh Bess, Oh Where’s My Bess? (G. Gershwin)
Prayer (Oh Doctor Jesus) (D. Heyward, G. Gershwin)
There’s a Boat That’s Leaving Soon for New York (G. Gershwin)

07/08/1958 Live recording for Riverside Records released on Thelonious In Action (1958) and Misterioso (1958)

Thelonious Monk Quartet: Johnny Griffin (tenor), Thelonious Monk (piano), Ahmed Abdul-Malik (bass), Roy Haynes (drums)

Light Blue (Thelonious Monk)
Coming on the Hudson (Thelonious Monk)
Rhythm-a-Ning (Thelonious Monk)
Just a Gigolo (I. Caesar, L. Casucci)
Blue Monk (Thelonious Monk)
Evidence (Thelonious Monk)
Epistrophy (Thelonious Monk, Kenny Clarke)
Nutty (Thelonious Monk)
Blues Five Spot (Thelonious Monk)
Let’s Cool One (Thelonious Monk)
In Walked Bud (Thelonious Monk)
Misterioso (Thelonious Monk)
Epistrophy (Thelonious Monk, Kenny Clarke)

Miles Diary:

5^th – 10^th August: Spotlite, Washington DC

09/08/1958 Live radio broadcast from the Spotlite Lounge, Washington DC

Miles Davis Sextet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Julian “Cannonball” Adderley (alto), John Coltrane (tenor), Bill Evans (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums)

Walkin (R. Carpenter)
All of You (C. Porter)
‘Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk)

12^th – 17^th August: Comedy Club, Baltimore

18/08/1958 Studio recording for Columbia – Porgy and Bess

Miles Davis with the Gil Evans Orchestra

I Wants to Stay Here aka I Loves You, Porgy (G. Gershwin)
I Loves You, Porgy (G. Gershwin)
- Take 1 second version released on reissue

23/08/1958 Studio album for Columbia, released on Jazz Impressions Of Eurasia (1958)

Dave Brubeck Quartet: Paul Desmond (alto), Dave Brubeck (piano), Joe Benjamin (bass), Joe Morello (drums)

Brandenburg Gate (Dave Brubeck)
The Golden Horn (Dave Brubeck)
Thank You (Dave Brubeck)
Calcutta Blues (Dave Brubeck)

31/08/1958 Live recording from Music Inn (Lenox, Massachusetts) for Atlantic – The Modern Jazz Quartet at Music Inn Volume 2 (1959)

Modern Jazz Quartet with Sonny Rollins: Sonny Rollins (tenor), Milt Jackson (vibraphone), John Lewis (piano), Percy Heath (bass), Connie Kay (drums)

Bags’ Groove (Milt Jackson)
Night in Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespie)

Miles Diary

23^rd August: Randall’s Island, New York

1^st – 6^th September: Showboat, Philadelphia

Columbia sponsored a party at the Plaza Hotel with the Miles Davis Sextet performing. Other performers apparently included Duke Ellington’s Orchestra, Jimmy Rushing and Billie Holiday. Esteemed writer Ralph Ellison was also in attendance, and wrote this hilarious letter to Albert Murray:

“I finally saw that… poor, evil, lost little Miles Davis, who on this occasion sounded like he just couldn’t get it together. Nor did Coltrane help with his badly executed velocity exercises. These cats have gotten lost, man. They’re trying to get hold of something by fucking up the blues”

With all due respect to Ellison, I have to disagree in the strongest terms on all but one count – I suppose the band were in a way “fucking up” long established musical structures, such as repeated tags on the end of each solo of If I Were a Bell. In my opinion this adds some dynamism to the otherwise very repetitive structures that most jazz improvisation occurs over. I should add that this is done in a very controlled way, with everyone on the same page. Ellison wasn’t the only critic of Coltrane’s new direction often referred to as “sheets of sound”, but I suppose there is almost always some backlash against new styles of self-expression. I think Coltrane sounds incredibly powerful here, full of energy, inventiveness and intellect.

09/09/1958 Live recording for Columbia from the Plaza Hotel, NY

Miles Davis Sextet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Julian “Cannonball” Adderley (alto), John Coltrane (tenor), Bill Evans (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums)

If I Were A Bell (F. Loesser)
Oleo (Sonny Rollins)
My Funny Valentine (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)
Straight, No Chaser (Thelonious Monk)

11/09/1958 Live recording from Five Spot Café, New York released by Blue Note on Thelonious Monk Quartet Live At The Five Spot Discovery! (1993)

Thelonious Monk Quartet: John Coltrane (tenor), Thelonious Monk (piano), Ahmed Abdul-Malik (bass), Roy Haynes (drums)

Trinkle Tinkle (Thelonious Monk)
In Walked Bud (Thelonious Monk)
I Mean You (Thelonious Monk, Coleman Hawkins)
Epistrophy (Thelonious Monk, Kenny Clarke)
Crepuscule With Nellie (Thelonious Monk)

12/09/1958 Studio recording for Decca – New York, N.Y. (1959)

George Russell Orchestra:

Trumpets: Art Farmer, Ernie Royal, Doc Severinsen

Trombones: Tom Mitchell, Frank Rehak, Bob Brookmeyer (valve trombone)

Reeds: Hal McKusick (alto), John Coltrane (tenor), Sol Schlinger (baritone)

RS: Bill Evans (piano), Barry Galbraith (guitar), Milt Hinton (bass), Charlie Persip (drums)

Narrator: Jon Hendricks

Manhattan (L. Hart, R. Rodgers)

13/10/1958 Studio recording for United Artists Records (released on Stereo Drive aka Coltrane Time in 1959)

Cecil Taylor Quintet: John Coltrane (tenor), Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Chuck Israels (bass), Louis Hayes (drums)

Shifting Down (Kenny Dorham)
Just Friends (Lenner, Lewis)
Like Someone in Love (Van Heusen, Burke)
Double Clutching (Chuck Israels)

20+21+22/10/1958 Studio recording for Contemporary – Sonny Rollins And The Contemporary Leaders (1958)

Sonny Rollins And The Contemporary Leaders: Sonny Rollins (tenor), Hampton Hawes (piano), Barney Kessel (guitar) Leroy Vinnegar (bass), Shelly Manne (drums), Victor Feldman (vibraphone on You)

This would be Rollins’ last studio album before his famous hiatus from performing and recording following a tour of Europe. He marked his return with his 1962 album The Bridge.

I’ve Told Every Little Star (O. Hammerstein, J. Kern)
Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody (S. M. Lewis, J. Schwartz, J. Young)
How High The Moon (N. Hamilton, M. Lewis)
You (H. Adamson, W. Donaldson)
- Add Victor Feldman (vibraphone)
I’ve Found A New Baby (J. Palmer, S. Williams)
Alone Together (H. Dietz, A. Schwartz)
In The Chapel in The Moonlight (B. Hill)
The Song Is You (O. Hammerstein, J. Kern)

30/10/1958 Studio recording at Rudy Van Gelder’s Hackensack studio for Blue Note released on Moanin’ aka Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers (1959)

Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers: Lee Morgan (trumpet), Benny Golson (tenor), Bobby Timmons (piano), Jymie Merritt (bass), Art Blaeky (drums)

Moanin (Bobby Timmons)
Are You Real (Benny Golson, Lee Morgan)
Along Came Betty (Benny Golson)
The Drum Thunder Suite (Benny Golson)
Blues March (Benny Golson)
Come Rain or Come Shine (H. Arlen, J. Mercer)

October 1958 Live recording from the Hillcrest Club in Los Angeles released on Live at the Hilcrest Club 1958 aka The Fabulous Paul Bley Quintet (1970)

Paul Bley Quintet: Don Cherry (cornet), Ornette Coleman (alto), Paul Bley (piano), Charlie Haden (bass), Billy Higgins (drums)

Klactoveesedstene (Charlie Parker)
I Remember Harlem (Roy Eldridge)
The Blessing (Ornette Coleman)
Free (Ornette Coleman)

October-November 1958 Live recording from the Hillcrest Club in Los Angeles released on Coleman Classics Volume 1 (1977)

Ornette Coleman Quintet: Don Cherry (cornet), Ornette Coleman (alto), Paul Bley (piano), Charlie Haden (bass), Billy Higgins (drums)

When Will The Blues Leave (Ornette Coleman)
Crossroads (Ornette Coleman)
Ramblin’ (Ornette Coleman)
How Deep Is The Ocean (I. Berlin)

Miles Diary

15^th – 21^st September: Modern Jazz Room, Cleveland

23^rd – 28^th September: Clarence’s Blue Bird Inn, Detroit

17^th – 23^rd October: Apollo Theatre, New York

29^th October – 2^nd November: Spotlite Lounge, Washington DC

01/11/1958 Live radio broadcast from the Spotlite Lounge, Washington DC

Miles Davis Sextet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Julian “Cannonball” Adderley (alto), John Coltrane (tenor), William “Red” Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums)

Sid’s Ahead aka Weirdo (Miles Davis)
Bye Bye Blackbird (R. Henderson, M. Dixon)
Straight, No Chaser

??/11/1958 Studio recording for Jubilee – A Tuba Jazz

Ray Draper Quintet: John Coltrane (tenor), Ray Draper (tuba), Jon Mayer (piano), Jimmy “Spanky” DeBrest, Larry Ritchie (drums)

Essie’s Dance (Ray Draper)
Doxy (Sonny Rollins)
Oleo (Sonny Rollins)
I Talk to the Trees (A. J. Lerner, F. Loewe)
Yesterdays (J. Kern, O. Harbach)
Angel Eyes (E. Brent, M. Dennis)

Miles Diary

4^th – 16^th November: Village Vanguard, New York

Bill Evans then left the band and was replaced by Wynton Kelly

28^th November: Town Hall, New York

29^th November: Mosque Theatre, Newark

12^th – 18^th December: Howard Theatre, Washington DC

27^th December: Town Hall, New York

15/12/1958 Studio recording for Riverside – Everybody Digs Bill Evans (1959)

Bill Evans Trio: Bill Evans (piano), Sam Jones (bass), “Philly” Joe Jones

Minority (Gigi Gryce)
Young and Foolish (A. Hague, A. B. Horwitt)
Lucky to Be Me (L. Bernstein, B. Comden, A. Green)
Night and Day (C. Porter)
Tenderly (W. Cross)
Peace Piece (Bill Evans)
What Is There to Say (V. Duke, Y. Harburg)
Oleo (Sonny Rollins)
Epilogue (Bill Evans)
Some Other Time (L. Bernstein, B. Comden, A. Green)
- Relased as a bonus track on the 1987 reissue.

26/12/1958 Studio recording for Prestige

John Coltrane Quintet: Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), John Coltrane (tenor), Red Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Arthur Taylor (drums)

Stardust (1963)

Time After Time (S. Cahn, J. Styne)
Then I’ll Be Tired Of You (Y. Harburg, A. Schwartz)

The Believer (1964)

Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful? (R. Rodgers, O. Hammerstein)

Bahia (1965)

Bahia (A. Barroso)
Goldsboro Express (John Coltrane)
Something I Dreamed Last Night (S. Fain, J. Yellen, H. Magidson)

29/12/1958 Studio recording for Blue Note released on The Scene Changes: The Amazing Bud Powell Vol. 5 (1959)

Bud Powell Trio: Bud Powell (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Art Taylor (drums)

Cleopatra’s Dream (Bud Powell)
Duid Deed (Bud Powell)
Down With It (Bud Powell)
Danceland (Bud Powell)
Borderick (Bud Powell)
Crossin’ the Channel (Bud Powell)
Comin’ Up (Bud Powell)
Getting’ There (Bud Powell)
The Scene Changes (Bud Powell)
Comin’ Up alt take (Bud Powell)

Around 1958-1959 Recording for Saturn released on The Lady with the Golden Stockings aka The Nubians of Plutonia (1966)

Sun Ra and His Myth Science Arkestra: Lucious Randoplh (trumpet except on Watusa), William Fielder (trumpet on Watusa), Nate Pryor (trombone), James Spaulding (alto + percussion), Marshall Allen (alto + percussion), John Gilmore (tenor + percssion), Pat Patrick (baritone + percussion), Charles Davis (baritone), Sun Ra (piano + wurlitzer), Ronnie Boykins (bass), Robert Barry (drums + percussion), Jim Herndon (percussion)

Plutonian Nights (Sun Ra)
The Lady with the Golden Stockings aka The Golden Lady (Sun Ra)
Star Time (Sun Ra)
Nubia (Sun Ra)
Africa (Sun Ra)
Watusa (Sun Ra)
Aethiopia (Sun Ra)

Miles Diary

3^rd – 14^th January: Birdland, New York

03/01/1959 Live radio broadcast from Birdland, NY

Miles Davis Sextet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Julian “Cannonball” Adderley (alto), John Coltrane (tenor), Wynton Kelly (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums)

Bags’ Groove (Milt Jackson)
All of You (C. Porter)

15/01/1959 Studio recording for Atlantic

Milt Jackson/John Coltrane Quintet: John Coltrane (tenor), Milt Jackson (vibraphone), Hank Jones (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Connie Kay (drums)

Bags & Trane (1961)

Bags & Trane (Milt Jackson)
Three Little Words (H. Ruby)
The Night We Called It a Day (M. Dennis, T. Adair)
Be-Bop (Dizzy Gillespie)
The Late Late Blues (Milt Jackson)

The Coltrane Legacy (1970)

Centerpiece (Harry “Sweets” Edison, Bill Tennyson)
Stairway To The Stars (M. Malneck, M. Parish, F. Signorelli)
Blues Legacy (Milt Jackson)

16/01/1959 Studio recording for Contemporary released on Tomorrow Is the Question! (1959)

Ornette Coleman Quartet: Don Cherry (cornet), Ornette Coleman (alto), Red Mitchell (bass), Shelly Manne (drums)

Lorraine (Ornette Coleman)

16/01/1959 Live recording for United Artists released on Jazz Portraits: Mingus in Wonderland (1959)

Charles Mingus Quintet: John Handy (alto), Booker Ervin (tenor), Richard Wyands (piano), Charles Mingus (bass), Dannie Richmond (drums)

Nostalgia In Times Square (Charles Mingus)
I Can’t Get Started (V. Duke, I. Gershwin)
No Private Income Blues (Charles Mingus)
Alice’s Wonderland (Charles Mingus)

04/02/1959 Studio recording for Atlantic released on Blues & Roots (1960)

Charles Mingus Nonet: Willie Dennis + Jimmy Knepper (trombone), John Handy + Jackie McLean (alto), Booker Ervin (tenor), Pepper Adams (bari), Horace Parlan (piano), Charles Mingus (bass), Dannie Richmond (drums)

Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting (Charles Mingus)
Cryin’ Blues (Charles Mingus)
Moanin (Charles Mingus)
Tensions (Charles Mingus)
My Jelly Roll Soul (Charles Mingus)
E’s Flat Ah’s Flat Too (Charles Mingus)
- Mal Waldron replaces Horace Parlan on piano

23/02/1959 Studio recording for Contemporary released on Tomorrow Is the Question! (1959)

Ornette Coleman Quartet: Don Cherry (cornet), Ornette Coleman (alto), Red Mitchell (bass), Shelly Manne (drums)

Turnaround (Ornette Coleman)
Endless (Ornette Coleman)

28/02/1959 Live recording for Riverside Records, partially released on The Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall (1959)

Thelonious Monk Quartet: Charlie Rouse (tenor), Thelonious Monk (piano), Sam Jones (bass), Art Taylor (drums)

In Walked Bud (Thelonious Monk)
Blue Monk (Thelonious Monk)
Rhythm-A-Ning (Thelonious Monk)

Thelonious Monk Orchestra: Donald Byrd (trumpet), Eddie Bert (trombone), Bob Northern (French horn), Phil Woods (alto), Charlie Rouse (tenor), Pepper Adams (baritone), Jay McAllister (tuba), Thelonious Monk (piano), Sam Jones (bass), Art Taylor (drums), Hall Overton (arranger)

Monk’s Mood (Thelonious Monk)
Friday the 13^th (Thelonious Monk)
Little Rootie Tootie (Thelonious Monk)
Off Minor (Thelonious Monk)
Thelonious (Thelonious Monk)
Crepuscule with Nellie (Thelonious Monk)
Little Rootie Tootie encore

Miles Diary:

21^st January – 1^st February: Sutherland Hotel Lounge, Chicago

14^th February: Civic Opera House, Chicago

23^rd – 28^th February: Showboat, Philadelphia

02/03/1959 Studio session for Columbia – Kind of Blue – 1959

Miles Davis Sextet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Julian “Cannonball” Adderley (alto), John Coltrane (tenor), Bill Evans (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums)

So What (Miles Davis)
Freddie Freeloader (Miles Davis)
- Wynton Kelly plays piano on this track – his only contribution to the album.
Blue in Green (Bill Evans, Miles Davis)

02/03/1959 Live recording from Nalen (Stockholm, Sweden) – Sonny Rollins Trio – In Stockholm 1959 (1984)

Sonny Rollins Trio: Sonny Rollins (tenor), Henry Grimes (bass), Pete La Roca (drums)

St Thomas (Sonny Rollins)

04/03/1959 Live Radio broadcast from Stockholm (Sweden) – Sonny Rollins Trio – In Stockholm 1959 (1984)

Sonny Rollins Trio: Sonny Rollins (tenor), Henry Grimes (bass), Pete La Roca (drums)

There Will Never Be Another You (H. Warren, M. Gordon)
Stay As Sweet As You Are (H. Revel, M. Gordon)
I’ve Told Every Little Star (J. Kern, O. Hammerstein)
How High The Moon (M. Lewis, N. Hamilton)
Oleo (Sonny Rollins)
Paul’s Pal (Sonny Rollins)

04/03/1959 Live recording from Sodra Teatern (Stockholm, Sweden) – Sonny Rollins Trio – In Stockholm 1959 (1984)

Sonny Rollins Trio: Sonny Rollins (tenor), Henry Grimes (bass), Joe Harris (drums)

Rollins Interview
It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing (Duke Ellington)
Paul’s Pal (Sonny Rollins)
Love Letters (V. Young, E. Heyman)

05/03/1959 Live recording from Kongresshaus (Zurich, Switzerland)

Sonny Rollins Trio: Sonny Rollins (tenor), Henry Grimes (bass), Pete La Roca (drums)

I Remember You (V. Schertzinger, J. Mercer)
I’ve Told Every Little Star (V. Young, O. Hammerstein)
It Could Happen To You (J. Van Heusen, J. Burke)
Oleo (Sonny Rollins)
Will You Still Be Mine (M. Dennis, T. Adair)

06/03/1959 Studio recording for Saturn released on Jazz in Silhouette (1959)

Sun Ra and His Arkestra: Hobart Dotson (trumpet), Marshall Allen (alto + flute), James Spaulding (alto + flute + percussion), John Gilmore (tenor + percussion), Bo Bailey (trombone), Pat Patrick (baritone + flute + percussion), Charles Davis (baritone + percussion), Sun Ra (piano + celeste + gong), Ronnie Boykins (bass), William Cochran (drums)

Hours After (Sun Ra, Everett Turner)
Horoscope (Sun Ra)
Images (Sun Ra)
Blues at Midnight (Sun Ra)
Enlightenment (Hobart Dotson, Sun Ra)
Saturn (Sun Ra)
Velvet (Sun Ra)
Ancient Aiethopia (Sun Ra)

06/03/1959 Studio recording for Saturn released on Sound Sun Pleasure!! (1970)

Sun Ra and his Astro Infinity Arkestra: Hobart Dotson (trumpet), Marshall Allen (alto + flute), James Spaulding (alto + flute + percussion), John Gilmore (tenor + percussion), Bo Bailey (trombone), Pat Patrick (baritone + flute + percussion), Charles Davis (baritone + percussion), Sun Ra (piano + celeste + gong), Ronnie Boykins (bass), William Cochran (drums), Hattie Randolph (vocals)

‘Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk)
You Never Told Me That You Care (Hobart Dotson)
Hour of Parting (Schiffer, Spoliansky)
Back In Your Own Backyard (Jolson, Rose, Dreyer)
Enlightenment also released on Jazz in Silhouette (Hobart Dotson, Sun Ra)
I Could Have Danced All Night (Lerner, Loewe)

06/03/1959 Studio recording for Saturn released on Interstellar Low Ways (1966)

Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra: Sun Ra (gong), Hobart Dotson (percussion), Marshall Allen (flute), James Spaulding (flute), John Gilmore (tenor + percussion), Pat Patrick (percussion), Ronnie Boykins (bass), William Cochran (drums)

Interstellar Low Ways (Sun Ra)

09&10/03/1959 Studio recording for Contemporary released on Tomorrow Is the Question! (1959)

Ornette Coleman Quartet: Don Cherry (cornet), Ornette Coleman (alto), Red Mitchell (bass), Shelly Manne (drums)

Tomorrow Is The Question (Ornette Coleman)
Tears Inside (Ornette Coleman)
Mind And Time (Ornette Coleman)
Compassion (Ornette Coleman)
Giggin’ (Ornette Coleman)
Rejoicing (Ornette Coleman)

11/03/1959 Live recording from Aix-en-Provence (France)

Sonny Rollins Trio: Sonny Rollins (tenor), Henry Grimes (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums)

Woody ‘n You (Dizzy Gillespie)
But Not For Me (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin)
Lady Bird (Tadd Dameron)
- Not available on the playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiDPP-SKZew

Miles Diary:

13^th March: Loew’s Valencia Theatre, New York

13^th – 19^th March: Apollo Theatre, New York

Miles partook in a filmed session for The Sound of Miles Davis, an installment of The Robert Herridge Theater. Only one track is on the playlist, but I have included two youtube videos that capture most of the show. Cannonball Adderley was meant to be present but apparently couldn’t make it due to a migraine. The footage was broadcast over a year after filming, on 21/07/1960.

02/04/1959 CBS TV broadcast from WBCS-TV Studio 61, New York

Miles Davis with the Gil Evans Orchestra: Miles Davis (trumpet), John Coltrane (tenor and possibly alto), Wynton Kelly (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums), Ernie Royal + Clyde Reisinger +Louis Mucci + Johnny Coles + Emmett Berry (trumpets), Frank Rehak + Jimmy Cleveland + Bill Elton (trombones), Rod Levitt (valve trombone), Julius Watkins + Robert Northern (French horns), Bill Barber (tuba), Romeo Penque + Eddie Caine (clarinet and flutes), Danny Bank (bass clarinet), Gil Evans (arrangements and conductor)

So What (Miles Davis)
The Duke (Dave Brubeck)
Blues for Pablo (Gil Evans)
New Rhumba (Ahmed Jamal)
So What reprise (Miles Davis)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqNTltOGh5c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFaK4q0pxcQ

15/04/1959 Studio session for United Artists (released on Love for Sale – 1959)

Cecil Taylor Quintet: Cecil Taylor (piano), Buell Neidlinger (bass), Denis Charles (drums), Ted Curson (trumpet on 4+5+6), Bill Barron (4+5+6)

Get Out of Town (Cole Porter)
I Love Paris (Cole Porter)
Love for Sale (Cole Porter)
Little Lees aka Louise (Cecil Taylor)
Matlie’s Trophies aka Motystrophe aka Blues (Cecil Taylor)
Carol/Three Points (Cecil Taylor)

Miles Diary:

16^th – 29^th April: Birdland, New York

22/04/1959 Studio recording for Columbia – Kind of Blue

Miles Davis Sextet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Julian “Cannonball” Adderley (alto), John Coltrane (tenor), Bill Evans (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums)

Flamenco Sketches (Bill Evans, Miles Davis)
All Blues (Miles Davis)

22/04/1959 Studio recording for Columbia – Gone with the Wind (1959)

Dave Brubeck Quartet: Paul Desmond (alto), Dave Brubeck (piano), Gene Wright (bass), Joe Morello (drums)

Swanee River (S. Forster)
The Lonesome Road (G. Austin, N. Shilkret)
Georgia On My Mind (H Carmichael, S. Gorrell)
Basin Street Blues (S. Williams)
Gone With The Wind (H. Magidson, A. Wrubel)

23/04/1959

Camptown Races (S. Foster)
Short’nin’ Bread (J. W. Riley)
Ol’ Man River (J. Kern, O. Hammerstein II)

04/05/1959 Studio recording for Atlantic – Giant Steps (1960)

John Coltrane Quartet: John Coltrane (tenor), Tommy Flanagan (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Arthur Taylor (drums)

Cousin Mary (John Coltrane)
Spiral (John Coltrane)

05/05/1959

Giant Steps (John Coltrane)
Countdown (John Coltrane)
Syeeda’s Song Flute (John Coltrane)
Mr. P.C. (John Coltrane)

05/05/1959 Studio recording for Columbia released on Mingus Ah Um (1959)

Charles Mingus Septet: Jimmy Knepper (trombone), John Handy (alto + clarinet), Curtis Porter (alto + tenor), Booker Ervin (tenor), Horace Parlan (piano), Charles Mingus (bass), Dannie Richmond (drums)

Better Git It In Your Soul (Charles Mingus)
Bird Calls (Charles Mingus)
Fables Of Faubus (Charles Mingus)
Pussy Cat Dues (Charles Mingus)
Jelly Roll (Charles Mingus)

12/05/1959 Studio recording for Columbia released on Mingus Ah Um (1959)

Charles Mingus Septet: Willie Dennis (trombone), John Handy (alto + clarinet), Curtis Porter (alto + tenor), Booker Ervin (tenor), Horace Parlan (piano), Charles Mingus (bass), Dannie Richmond (drums)

Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (Charles Mingus)
Boogie Stop Shuffle (Charles Mingus)
Self-Portrait in Three Colors (Charles Mingus)
Open Letter To Duke (Charles Mingus)

22/05/1959 Studio recording for Atlantic released on The Shape of Jazz to Come (1959)

Ornette Coleman Quartet: Don Cherry (cornet), Ornette Coleman (alto), Charlie Haden (bass), Billy Higgins (drums)

Lonely Woman (Ornette Coleman)
Eventually (Ornette Coleman)
Peace (Ornette Coleman)
Focus On Sanity (Ornette Coleman)
Congeniality (Ornette Coleman)
Chronology (Ornette Coleman)

Two more tracks that were released by Atlantic on compilation albums without Coleman’s input:

Monk And The Nun (Ornette Coleman) released on Twins in 1971
Just For You (Ornette Coleman) released on The Art of the Improviser (1970)

01&02&4/06/1959 Studio recording for Riverside Records released on 5 by Monk by 5 (1959)

Thelonious Monk Quintet: Thad Jones (cornet), Charlie Rouse (tenor), Thelonious Monk (piano), Sam Jones (bass), Art Taylor (drums)

Jackie-ing (Thelonious Monk)
Straight, No Chaser (Thelonious Monk)
Played Twice (Thelonious Monk)
I Mean You (Thelonious Monk, Coleman Hawkins)
Ask Me Now (Thelonious Monk)

25/06/1959 Studio recording for Columbia – Time Out (1959)

Dave Brubeck Quartet: Paul Desmond (alto), Dave Brubeck (piano), Gene Wright (bass), Joe Morello (drums)

Three To Get Ready (Dave Brubeck)
Kathy’s Waltz (Dave Brubeck)
Everybody’s Jumpin’ (Dave Brubeck)

01/07/1959 Studio recording for Columbia – Time Out (1959)

Dave Brubeck Quartet: Paul Desmond (alto), Dave Brubeck (piano), Gene Wright (bass), Joe Morello (drums)

Strange Meadowlark (Dave Brubeck)
Take Five (Paul Desmond)

18/08/1959 Studio recording for Columbia – Time Out (1959)

Dave Brubeck Quartet: Paul Desmond (alto), Dave Brubeck (piano), Gene Wright (bass), Joe Morello (drums)

Blue Rondo à la Turk (Dave Brubeck)
Pick Up Sticks

Miles Diary:

6^th – 17^th May: Sutherland Hotel Lounge, Chicago

29^th May – 21^st June: Blackhawk Supper Club, San Francisco

26^th June: Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles

1^st – 19^th July: Jazz Seville, Los Angeles

Coltrane left the band during this stint at the Jazz Seville, and Miles hired Jimmy Heath to take over the tenor chair. Coltrane would return for some performances however.

17^th – 26^th August: Birdland, New York

23^rd August: Randall’s Island Jazz Festival

During this stint at Birdland, one of Miles’ sets was recorded for a ‘Voice of America’ broadcast promoting the armed forces. In between sets, he walked a friend – a “pretty white girl named Judy” to get a cab outside the club. A white police officer approached Miles and told him to “move on”. When Miles protested, explaining he was working downstairs pointing to his own name that was lit up on the marquee, the policeman threatened to arrest him. Miles resisted, and then “this white detective runs in and BAM! Hits me on the head”. Pictures taken at the scene depict Miles covered in blood. He was arrested and charged with resisting arrest and assault and battery of a police officer, yet he was the one who needed stitches for the assault he received. It took two months to rule that the arrest had been illegal, and the charges were dismissed. However the police revoked Miles’ cabaret card – preventing him from performing in New York. This all happened days after Kind of Blue was released. The radio broadcast for the US armed forces went out on 16^th September 1960.

25/08/1959 Live radio broadcast from Birdland, New York

Miles Davis Sextet: Miles Davis (trumpet), Cannonball Adderley (alto), John Coltrane (tenor), Wynton Kelly (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums)

So What (Miles Davis)

Cannonball Adderley left the band after this stint, and the band carried on as a quintet whilst Miles and Gil Evans started plans for their next large project – Sketches of Spain – the first sessions of which were in November.

Miles Diary

1^st – 6^th September: Cotton Club, Atlantic City

7^th – 16^th Showboat, Philadelphia

17^th September – 7^th October: Birdland, New York

4^th October, Assembly Hall – Hunter College, New York

11^th October: Academy of Music, Philadelphia

16^th – 22^nd October: Howard Theatre, Washington DC

23^rd – 29^th October: Brooklyn Paramount, New York

5^th – 25^th November: Birdland, New York

27^th November: St Nicholas Arena, New York

11^th – 20^th December: Club 12, Detroit

25^th – 31^st December: Regal Theatre, Chicago

08/10/1959 Studio recording for Atlantic – Change Of The Century (1960)

Ornette Coleman Quartet: Don Cherry (cornet), Ornette Coleman (alto), Charlie Haden (bass), Bill Higgins (drums)

The Face of the Bass (Ornette Coleman)
Bird Food (Ornette Coleman)
Una Muy Bonita (Ornette Coleman)
Change of the Century (Ornette Coleman)
Music Always (Ornette Coleman)* released on To Whom Keeps A Record (1975)

09/10/1959 Studio recording for Atlantic released on Change Of The Century (1960)

Ornette Coleman Quartet: Don Cherry (cornet), Ornette Coleman (alto), Charlie Haden (bass), Bill Higgins (drums)

Ramblin’ (Ornette Coleman)
Free (Ornette Coleman)
Forerunner (Ornette Coleman)
The Circle With A Hole In The Middle (Ornette Coleman)* released on The Art Of The Improvisers (1970)

21+22/10/1959 Live recording for Riverside Records from Fugazi Hall, San Francisco, released on Thelonious Alone in San Francisco (1959)

Thelonious Monk (solo piano)

Blue Monk (Thelonious Monk)
Ruby, My Dear (Thelonious Monk)
Round Lights (Thelonious Monk)
Everything Happens to Me (Adair, Dennis)
You Took the Words Right Out of My Heart (Rainger, Robin)
Bluehawk (Thelonious Monk)
Pannonica (Thelonious Monk)
Remember (I. Berlin)
There’s Danger in Your Eyes, Cherie (Meskill, Richman, Wendling)
Reflections (Thelonious Monk)

01/11/1959 Studio recording for Columbia released on Mingus Dynasty (1960)

Charles Mingus Tentet: Richard Williams (trumpet), Jimmy Knepper (trombone), Jerome Richardson (flute + bari), John Handy (alto), Booker Ervin + Benny Golson (tenors), Teddy Charles (vibraphone), Roland Hanna (piano), Charles Mingus (bass), Dannie Richmond (drums + timpani)

Diane (Charles Mingus)
Song With Orange (Charles Mingus)
Gunslinging Bird aka If Charlie Parker Were a Gunslinger, There’d Be a Whole Lot of Dead Copycats (Charles Mingus)
Far Wells, Mill Valley (Charles Mingus)
New Now Know How (Charles Mingus)
- Nico Bunick replaces Roland Hanna on piano

01/11/1959 Studio recording for Columbia released on Mingus Dynasty (1960)

Charles Mingus Septet With Strings Duo: Don Ellis (trumpet), Jimmy Knepper (trombone), John Handy (alto), Booker Ervin (tenors), Roland Hanna (piano), Charles Mingus (bass), Dannie Richmond (drums + timpani)

Slop (Charles Mingus)
Things Ain’t What They Used To Be (Mercer Ellington)
Mood Indigo (Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington)
Put Me In That Dungeon (Charles Mingus)
- Seymour Barab + Mourice Brown (cello)

24/11/1959 Studio recording for Atlantic – Coltrane Jazz (1961)

John Coltrane Quartet: John Coltrane (tenor), Wynton Kelly (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums)

Little Old Lady (H. Carmichael, S. Adams)
I’ll Wait And Pray (George Treadwell, Gerald “Jerry” Valentine)

02/12/1959 Studio recording for Atlantic

John Coltrane Quartet: John Coltrane (tenor), Wynton Kelly (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums)

Giant Steps (1960)

Naima (John Coltrane)

Coltrane Jazz (1961)

My Shining Hour (H. Arlen, J. Mercer)
Fifth House (John Coltrane)
Harmonique (John Coltrane)
Like Sonny (John Coltrane)
Some Other Blues (John Coltrane)

02/12/1959 Studio recording for Riverside – Portrait In Jazz (1960)

Bill Evans Trio: Bill Evans (piano), Scott LaFaro (bass), Paul Motian (drums)

Come Rain or Come Shine (H. Arlen, J. Mercer)
Autumn Leaves (J. Kosma, J. Prévert, J. Mercer)
Witchcraft (C. Coleman, C. Leigh)
When I Fall in Love (V. Young, E. Heyman)
Peri’s Scope (Bill Evans)
What Is This Thing Called Love (C. Porter)
Spring Is Here (R. Rodgers, L. Hart)
Someday My Prince Will Come (F. Churchill, L. Morey)
Blue in Green (Miles Davis, Bill Evans)