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Miles Ahead session details

[Return to 1960s sessions]

March 4, 1960 (2 items; TT = 21:18)
Civic Auditorium, San Francisco CA
Private recording (acetate) (C+)

Miles Davis (tpt); John Coltrane (ts); Buddy Montgomery (vb); Wynton Kelly (p); Paul Chambers (b); Jimmy Cobb (d)

1 So What (inc) (M. Davis) 17:21

Opening theme (0:00-0:27); Davis solo (0:27-5:09); Coltrane solo (5:09-14:21); Montgomery solo (14:21-16:39); cut to closing chorus (16:39-17:21)
2 On Green Dolphin Street (inc) (N. Washington-B. Kaper) 3:57

Opening theme (0:00-1:33); beginning of Davis solo (1:33-3:57)


These items are from one side of a poor quality 12" 33-1/3 rpm acetate. The Davis sextet headlined a "Dimensions in Jazz" concert with the Art Farmer-Benny Golson Jazztet, Nina Simone, and others. According to Chris De Vito the set consisted of "So What," "Walkin'," "On Green Dolphin Street," and "'Round Midnight."

Buddy Montgomery was booked to perform with Davis on the "Jazz at the Philharmonic" tour of Europe -- he is included in the programs for several venues -- but he cried off at the last minute because of a fear of flying. The Quintet performed without him, and this is the only extant recording of the expanded group.

Montgomery joined the Davis group for a two-week engagement at the Sutherland Hotel Lounge in Chicago (February 11-21); the Sextet was booked at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles (February 27) and at the San Jose Civic Auditorium (March 3).

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