Miles appears as part of an all-star modern jazz band led by Thelonious Monk at the second annual Newport Jazz Festival; his solo on “‘Round Midnight”—downtempo, restrained, with the added pinched effect created by Miles cupping the microphone with his trumpet bell—is the talk of the festival. George Avakian, head of album production at Columbia Records, finally accedes to Miles’ entreaties to record for the major label. Avakian had originally given him three conditions: 1) be free of heroin; 2) have a consistent lineup; and 3) complete his contractual obligation to Prestige Records. Already clean, Miles focuses on the other two.