After hearing Miles Davis play the tune ‘Round Midnight with Theolonius Monk and members of the Modern Jazz Quartet during a jam session at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1955, George Avakian was persuaded to sign him to Columbia Records. At the time Davis was under contract to the Prestige label and owed them four more albums to satisfy the terms of that contract. He recorded the four albums in just three sessions in order to get out of the contract as soon as possible.

Davis began work on his first album for Columbia in October of 1955. The record was not completed for 11 months, and the final session took place on September 10, 1956, during which All of You and ‘Round Midnight were recorded. The finished album was named “’Round About Midnight.”

The record began a long, successful and lucrative, although not always cordial, relationship between the Columbia and Davis. This album featured Davis’ first great quintet with John Coltrane playing tenor saxophone, Red Garland at the piano, Paul Chambers on bass and Philly Joe Jones playing the drum set. The finished product was released on March 4, 1957.

Here is a link to ‘Round Midnight from the album “'Round About Midnight“  recorded 70 years ago today:

"'ROUND MIDNIGHT"