The Birth Of Cool and Kind of Blue were already both taken, but it matters not as this 1957 release is right up there. It wasn’t universally well recieved when initially released with one reviewer suggesting it was just a contractual obligation album and the The Penguin Guide to Jazz said that “the material is fine but somehow fails to cast quite the consistent spell which the Prestige recordings do” and Ralph Berton of The Record Changer called the album “orthodox, middle-of-the-road conservative progressive jazz.” They were both wrong.

Bob Rusch of Cadence wrote, “everything about this date, from the black-and-white cover photo, washed in red, of Miles Davis, removed in thought behind dark glasses, to the performances, is classic. Not surprisingly, careful packaging and exquisite artistry have created a legend and, in this case, one of the essential recordings in the history of recorded music.” I agree with Bob.

‘Round About Midnight his first album for Columbia Records and a defining statement in modern jazz. Featuring his “first great quintet”—John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones—the album blends cool restraint with emotional depth. The title track, a Thelonious Monk standard, showcases Davis’s hauntingly lyrical trumpet tone. The group’s interplay is tight yet expressive, hinting at the post-bop innovations to come. With moody ballads and swinging uptempo numbers, ‘Round About Midnight captures a pivotal moment in Davis’s evolution—balancing tradition with quiet rebellion. It’s both timeless and transitional, full of atmosphere and simmering intensity.

10 Facts About Miles Davis – ‘Round About Midnight (1957)

1. First Album for Columbia Records
   ‘Round About Midnight marked Miles Davis’s major-label debut with Columbia, after being signed by producer George Avakian.
2. Features the “First Great Quintet”
   The album showcases Davis’s legendary quintet: John Coltrane (tenor sax), Red Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), and Philly Joe Jones (drums).
3. Named After a Thelonious Monk Tune
   The title track is a reinterpretation of Monk’s haunting ballad “’Round Midnight”, one of the most recorded standards in jazz history.
4. Based on a Breakthrough Live Performance
   Davis’s version of “’Round Midnight” stunned audiences at the 1955 Newport Jazz Festival, leading to his Columbia contract.
5. Recorded While Still Signed to Prestige
   Although Davis had signed with Columbia, he was still under contract with Prestige Records—so Columbia held off releasing the album until 1957.
6. Blends Cool Jazz with Post-Bop Energy
   The album sits at the intersection of Davis’s cool jazz past and his more exploratory, intense post-bop future.
7. John Coltrane’s Playing Is Still Evolving
   Coltrane wasn’t yet the powerhouse he would become, but his solos hint at the bold, searching voice that would later define him.
8. Lyrical and Moody in Tone
   The album is known for its subdued beauty—especially on tracks like “Bye Bye Blackbird” and “All of You”.
9. Cover Photo Became Iconic
   The moody red-tinted photo of Miles Davis was shot by Marvin Koner, capturing Davis with his hand over his mouth in a pensive moment.
10. A Quietly Groundbreaking Record
    Though not as radical as later albums like Kind of Blue, ‘Round About Midnight showed Davis refining his voice and setting the stage for jazz’s next evolution.