Session details: Birdland (May 3, 1952)

Miles Ahead session details

May 3, 1952 (6 items; TT = 23:50)

Birdland, New York NY

WJZ-AM radio broadcast (B-)

Show chatter

Miles Davis (tpt); Jackie McLean (as); Don Elliott (vb, mellophone); Gil Coggins (p); Connie Henry (b); Connie Kay (d); Bob Garrity (ann)

1	Wee Dot (J.J. Johnson)	6:22
2	Introduction (Bob Garrity)	0:20
	Garrity: "Lemme see, we got, ah... [undecipherable] ahh..." Davis: "Gilly..." Garrity: "Gilly. Gilly Coogin... On piano, or bass?" Davis: "Yeah. Piano..." Garrity: "On piano? Gilly Coogin on piano..." Davis: "Connie Henry on bass..." Garrity: "And Connie Henry on bass, and Connie Kay on the drums. That's the Miles Davis All-Stars this morning. Who's on trumpet?" Davis: "Dizzy..." Garrity: "Dizzy? Man, you look like Miles to me..."
3	The Chase (T. Dameron)	6:23
4	It Could Happen to You (J. Burke-J. Van Heusen)	4:21
5	Out of the Blue (M. Davis)	5:48
	Issued (without Garrity introduction) as "Opmet" on Ozone
	"Well, an up-tempo, whatever you say, go. All right?"
6	Unknown Title (closing theme (inc))	0:36
	"...the All-Stars: Miles on trumpet with Don Elliott on vibes, featuring... Jackie McLean on alto, lemme see... we got Gilly Coogin, there's a name for ya, Gilly Coogin..." [cut to Davis closing theme]


1 Wee Dot 12" LP: Ozone 8 CD: Fresh Sound FSCD-1000
2 Introduction (Bob Garrity) CD: Recording Arts Reference Edition RARE CD 08/10
3 The Chase 12" LP: Rarelp 08, Ozone 8 CD: Recording Arts (Golden Age of Jazz) JZCD 313, Fresh Sound FSCD-1000, Recording Arts Reference Edition RARE CD 08/10
4 It Could Happen to You 12" LP: Ozone 8 CD: Fresh Sound FSCD-1000
5 Out of the Blue 12" LP: Rarelp 08, Ozone 8 CD: Recording Arts (Golden Age of Jazz) JZCD 313, Fresh Sound FSCD-1000, Recording Arts Reference Edition RARE CD 08/10

This is Davis' first live date as a leader since the October Birdland broadcast. His All-Star group was booked at Birdland for one week, May 1-7. These tunes were broadcast on WJZ -- presumably there was more from this night, but so far this is all that has surfaced.

On May 31 a "gala affair" took place at the Union Park Temple in Chicago, where the "new king of the trumpet," Miles Davis, performed "with 2 bands." (No mention of the personnel, unfortunately.) An All-Star group comprising J.J. Johnson, Milds Davis [sic], Milt Jackson, Zoot Sims, Percy Heath, and Kenny Clarke, along with Symphony Sid Torin, "New York's Greatest Disc Jockey," was booked for a week (June 30-July 6) at Cleveland's Ebony Club.