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Miles Ahead session details

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January 21, 1949 (4 items; TT = 11:21)
WMGM Studios, New York NY
Commercial for Capitol

Miles Davis (tpt); Kai Winding (tb); Junior Collins (frh); Bill Barber (tuba); Lee Konitz (as); Gerry Mulligan (bs); Al Haig (p); Joe Shulman (b); Max Roach (d)

1 Jeru (take 3) (G. Mulligan) 3:10

Arranged by Gerry Mulligan
2 Move (take 3) (D. Best) 2:31

Arranged by John Lewis
3 Godchild (take 2) (G. Wallington) 3:08

Arranged by Gerry Mulligan
4 Hallucinations (take 1) [Budo] (B. Powell-M. Davis) 2:32

Arranged by John Lewis


1 Jeru (take 3)
78 rpm: Capitol 57-60005
45 rpm: Capitol EAP 1-459
10" LP: Capitol H-459
12" LP: Capitol T 762, Capitol DT 1974, Capitol CAPS 1024, Capitol M 11026, Classic Records T762 (180 gram), Classic Records ACAP 762Q (200 gram), Toshiba ECJ-50050
CD: Capitol CDP 94550, Definitive Records DRCD 11159, Capitol CDP 30117, Columbia C2K 85475, Toshiba TOCJ-5301, Sony SRCS 2493/4, Sony SICP 20162/3

2 Move (take 3)
78 rpm: Capitol 15404
45 rpm: Capitol EAP 3-459
12" LP: Capitol T 762, Capitol DT 1974, Capitol CAPS 1024, Capitol M 11026, Classic Records T762 (180 gram), Classic Records ACAP 762Q (200 gram), Toshiba ECJ-50050
CD: Toshiba TOCJ-5301, Capitol CDP 94550, Definitive Records DRCD 11159, Capitol CDP 30117

3 Godchild (take 2)
78 rpm: Capitol 57-60005
45 rpm: Capitol EAP 2-459
10" LP: Capitol H-459
12" LP: Capitol T 762, Capitol DT 1974, Capitol CAPS 1024, Capitol M 11026, Classic Records T762 (180 gram), Classic Records ACAP 762Q (200 gram), Toshiba ECJ-50050
CD: Toshiba TOCJ-5301, Capitol CDP 94550, Definitive Records DRCD 11159, Capitol CDP 30117

4 Hallucinations (take 1)
78 rpm: Capitol 15404
45 rpm: Capitol EAP 3-459
12" LP: Capitol T 762, Capitol DT 1974, Capitol CAPS 1024, Capitol M 11026, Classic Records T762 (180 gram), Classic Records ACAP 762Q (200 gram), Toshiba ECJ-50050
CD: Toshiba TOCJ-5301, Capitol CDP 94550, Definitive Records DRCD 11159, Capitol CDP 30117


This is the first of three Capitol studio sessions with the Davis Nonet, which had long since stopped working as a regular group. Perhaps the group would have been recorded earlier if the American Federation of Musicians recording ban had not been in effect.

Several iconic photographs from this session taken by William "PoPsie" Randolph reveal that the location is WMGM Recording Studio, located at 711 5th Avenue. Capitol Records did not have its own recording studio in New York, and WMGM's studios were used for many Capitol jazz sessions in the 1940s. In 1952 WMGM bought an interest in Fine Sound, and on October 10, 1953 Billboard reported that "Fine Sound Takes Over N.Y. Studios." Henceforth the studios would be known as Fine Sound Studios, and many memorable sessions for Verve and other jazz labels were recorded there.

"Budo" is Bud Powell's "Hallucinations," recorded for Mercury in 1951. For this session the title had changed to "Budo" and Davis was co-credited as composer.

I am grateful to Leif Bo Petersen for help with this session.

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