Session details: Birdland (February 18, 1950)

Miles Ahead session details

February 18, 1950 (11 items; TT = 24:12)

Birdland, New York NY

WNYC-AM radio broadcast (B)

Show chatter

Miles Davis (tpt); J.J. Johnson (tb); Stan Getz (ts); Tadd Dameron (p); Gene Ramey (b); Art Blakey (d)

1	Introduction	0:11
	"Well let's, uh, let's get started with a little of that modern music, something by Miles Davis and his boys, something they call 'Conception'... Boys?"
2	Conception (G. Shearing)	4:06
3	Introduction	0:42
	"The music they're playing today, it's all modern, it's all kicks. Miles Davis and his band under the auspices of of Monte Kay. Miles Davis on trumpet, J.J. Johnson trombone, Stan Getz tenor sax, Tadd Dameron piano, Gene Ramey bass, and Art Blakey drums. That's the stuff they're playing these days, the progressive stuff, the bop. Well, what's next? What's next? Something called 'Ray's Idea' -- what's that all about?" Unknown: "Well, Marty, I think that's named after a very great bass player named Ray Brown, who's playing at the Birdland now, with his wife, a, uh, pretty well known singer named Ella Fitzgerald. And I think you oughta mention right now that these are all Miles Davis' arrangements, and..." Unknown: "Fine and dandy. All right, Miles -- Miles just took a bow for it -- here we are. Take it away, Miles..."
4	Ray's Idea (R. Brown-W.G. Fuller)	5:54
5	Introduction	0:09
	Crosstalk: "Well, coming..." What's next up?" "Coming right up next is a... tenor sax solo, 'That Old Black Magic', and it features none other than Stan Getz... Stan?"
6	That Old Black Magic (J. Mercer-H. Arlen)	2:27
	Davis out
7	Introduction	0:15
	"Some of that magic, that old black magic, as played for you by... Stan Getz... Coming up next, a tune called 'Max is Making Wax'... Miles Davis just informed me, the tune is dedicated to a fine drummer, Max Roach. 'Max is Making Wax'...
8	Max is Making Wax (O. Pettiford)	4:00
9	Introduction	0:05
	[undecipherable], that's it, 'Max is Making Wax', and... [cut off]
10	Introduction (different announcer than above)	0:12
	Unknown: "Stan Getz, tenor; J.J. Johnson trombone; Art Blakey drums; Gene Ramey bass; Tadd Dameron, piano. Is that the right title, Miles?" Davis: "'Woody 'n' You'..." Unknown: "'Woody 'n ' You' [undecipherable], here we go..."
11	Woody 'n' You (D. Gillespie)	6:11


2 Conception 12" LP: Ozone 1 CD: Recording Arts (Golden Age of Jazz) JZCD 313, Recording Arts Reference Edition RARE CD 08/10
4 Ray's Idea 12" LP: Ozone 1
6 That Old Black Magic 12" LP: Ozone 1
8 Max is Making Wax 12" LP: Ozone 1 CD: Recording Arts (Golden Age of Jazz) JZCD 313, Recording Arts Reference Edition RARE CD 08/10
11 Woody 'n' You 12" LP: Ozone 1

The venue for this recording is probably Birdland, although it is sometimes listed as WNYC Studios. (Birdland is never mentioned in the chatter between tunes.) The Davis-Getz Sextet were booked at Birdland for two weeks, from February 17 until March 2. Also on the bill were the Dick Hyman group with Gene Ammons and Sonny Stitt: some of their tunes from this date have been released on Ozone 1, along with the Davis-Getz items listed above. The Charlie Parker Quintet and the Bud Powell Trio were also booked at Birdland during this period. The program was a part of WNYC's 11th Annual American Music Festival, which was broadcast February 12-22. The festival program on February 18 lists a jazz broadcast from 4-6 pm.

I am grateful to James Accardi, Leif Bo Petersen, and Eric Jooris for help with this session.