'Round About Midnight | ||||
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Studio album by Miles Davis | ||||
Released | March 6, 1957 | |||
Recorded | October 26, 1955; June 5 and September 10, 1956 30th Street Studios (New York, New York) |
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Genre | Hard bop | |||
Length | 38:47 | |||
Label |
Columbia CL-949 |
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Producer | George Avakian | |||
Miles Davis chronology | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
All About Jazz | (favorable) link |
Allmusic | link |
The Guardian | link |
MusicHound | link |
Penguin Guide to Jazz | link |
PopMatters | (favorable) link |
Rolling Stone | link |
Virgin Encyclopedia | link |
Warr | link |
'Round About Midnight is an album by jazz musician Miles Davis. It was his debut on Columbia Records, and was originally released in March 1957 (CL 949). The album took its name from the Thelonious Monk song "'Round Midnight". Recording sessions took place at Columbia Studio D on October 26, 1955, and at Columbia's 30th Street Studio on June 5 and September 10, 1956.
Although it had a lukewarm reception upon its release, 'Round About Midnight has since been regarded by critics as a masterpiece of the hard bop genre and one of the greatest jazz albums of all time.
At the Newport Jazz Festival in 1955, Davis performed the song "'Round Midnight" as part of an all-star jam session, with the song's composer Thelonious Monk, along with Connie Kay and Percy Heath of the Modern Jazz Quartet, Zoot Sims, and Gerry Mulligan. Davis's solo received an extremely positive reception from many jazz fans, and critics. It was viewed as a significant comeback and indication of a healthy, drug-free Davis (he had in fact been free from heroin addiction for well over a year). Davis' response to this performance was typically laconic: "What are they talking about? I just played the way I always play."George Avakian of Columbia Records was in the audience, and his brother Aram persuaded him that he ought to sign Davis to the label. Davis was eventually signed to Columbia Records, and was able to form his famous "first great quintet" with John Coltrane on saxophone. 'Round About Midnight was to be his first album for his new label.