Created in 1954 and originally based in Newport, Rhode Island, the Newport Jazz Festival became one of the most celebrated and emblematic jazz festivals in the world. Immortalized in 1958 by Bert Stern’s movie Jazz on a Summer’s Day, it provided the setting for some of the most talked about events in jazz history, such as Miles Davis’ 1955 performance of “’Round Midnight” (included here), which led to a resurgence in his career. Presented here are Miles Davis’ two earliest Newport performances in their entireties, the aforementioned 1955 set (also featuring Gerry Mulligan, Zoot Sims and Thelonious Monk) and the 1958 set, featuring the Miles Davis Sextet with John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers & Jimmy Cobb.
