Round About Midnight

The first of Miles Davis' LPs for Columbia, Round About Midnight is the landmark that broke a new talent-heavy backing band, with Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones as the rhythm section supporting the understated pianist Red Garland, and a then-unknown John Coltrane. An album of uncommon beauty that veers between cool jazz and hard bop, the version of the title track with Miles' muted trumpet is arguably more distinctive than Monk's original, the adaptation of Bird's "Au Leu-Cha" is equally great and there are non-standard renditions of "Basin Street Blues," "All Of You," and "Bye-Bye Blackbird." Absolutely essential Miles!