Miles Davis’ 1958 concert in Newport was part of one of the finest programs of the
legendary festival. Notably, the night of July 3rd was organized around Duke Ellington
whose big band—with special guests Gerry Mulligan and Mahalia Jackson—shared
the stage with Rex Stewart, the Dave Brubeck Quartet, and Miles’ sextet. Caught in
traffic jams on his way from the ferry to Newport, he arrived just in time to play, and
John Coltrane had to be asked to reduce the length of his solos. During “Ah-Leu-Cha,”
the first piece, Coltrane jumped into the two choruses attributed to him and blew the
harmonics to pieces. In the course of the concert, he asserted himself as the true
star of the quintet. In contrast, Cannonball Adderley—at first welcomed with prolonged
applause—seemed to fade into the background. A few months later, fascinated by his
tenor’s development, Miles nailed down the alto’s more traditional style: “Why play
all those notes that don’t mean anything?”

Original issue: Columbia/Legacy
CD CK 85202 in 2001; Tracks 2-5
originally issued on Miles & Monk
At Newport (CS 8978) on May 11, 1964
Producer: George Avakian
Engineers: Adjutor Theroux, Buddy Graham
Miles Davis (tpt); Cannonball Adderley (as);
John Coltrane (ts); Bill Evans (p);
Paul Chambers (b); Jimmy Cobb (d)
Recorded live at the Newport Jazz Festival,
Newport, Rhode Island, July 3, 1958