Session details: Birdland (April 26, 1952)

Miles Ahead session details

April 26, 1952 (7 items; TT = 12:22)

Birdland, New York NY

WJZ-AM radio broadcast (B-)

Show chatter

Miles Davis (tpt); Don Elliott (vb, mellophone); Chuck Wayne (g); Beryl Booker (p); Clyde Lombardi (b); Connie Kay (d); Bob Garrity (ann)

1	Introduction (Bob Garrity)	0:16
	"I think it's about time that we bring on one of the finest, if not the greatest, technicians on modern trumpet in the country today, so ladies and gentlemen, a nice hand for Miles Davis... Miles, how 'bout 'Lady Be Good'?"
2	Rifftide (C. Hawkins)	4:10
3	Introduction (Garrity)	0:24
	"Miles Davis, ladies and gentlemen. He is the greatest. I think, right along about now with Miles right in front of the Beryl Booker Quintet with the same line-up, with Don Elliot, Chuck Wayne, Connie Kay, and Clyde Lombardi, we'll slow 'em down a little bit, go into the ballad-type modern jazz, as Miles... We gonna play that one? Miles? Yeah, all right, 'It Could Happen to You'..."
4	It Could Happen to You (J. Burke-J. Van Heusen)	4:32
5	Introduction (Garrity)	0:13
	"A real beautiful one, 'It Could Happen to You', done by Miles Davis with Beryl Booker and the All-Stars, here over WJZ, New York's first station. Miles and Beryl, we're running a little short. On this last one, could we make a real quick version of 'Wee Dot'?"
6	Wee Dot (J.J. Johnson)	2:12
7	Unknown Title (closing theme)	0:35
	Voiceover closing announcement (0:00-0:27): "Thank you very much. Thank you Miles Davis, thank you the Beryl Booker Quintet. I hate to say it, but this is about the halfway mark of our live show this morning. That was, that is, this is it -- Beryl Booker in the background, once again featuring Don Elliott on vibes, mellophone, piano, and french fries, Chuck Wayne on guitar, Clyde Lombardi bass, and Connie Kay at the drums. Thank you very much for the first half hour, Beryl Booker."


1 Introduction (Bob Garrity) CD: Rare Live Recordings RLR 88666
2 Rifftide CD: Rare Live Recordings RLR 88666
3 Introduction (Garrity) CD: Rare Live Recordings RLR 88666
4 It Could Happen to You CD: Rare Live Recordings RLR 88666
5 Introduction (Garrity) CD: Rare Live Recordings RLR 88666
6 Wee Dot CD: Rare Live Recordings RLR 88666
7 Unknown Title (closing theme) CD: Rare Live Recordings RLR 88666

"Rifftide" is based on the changes of "Lady Be Good" and was first recorded in December 1944 by Mary Lou Williams. It was credited to Coleman Hawkins when he recorded it in February 1945 for Capitol. Substantially the same tune (albeit with a different bridge) was recorded in May 1954 by Thelonious Monk, with a new title, "Hackensack," and credited to Monk.

Davis had been away from New York for several months, in the Midwest trying to cure his heroin habit. He returned in April and joined the Beryl Booker group for a week at Birdland. This Saturday-night performance was broadcast on WJZ; the previous night's performance was broadcast on WNEW. Perhaps on the strengths of this gig, Davis was offered a one-week engagement at Birdland, May 1-7.