Miles Davis Quintet, 1st album
*The Miles Davis Quintet is celebrated on this date in 1955. These were two jazz groups formed from 1955 to early 1969, led by Miles Davis. Most references pertain to two distinct and relatively stable bands: the First Great Quintet, from 1955 to 1959, and the Second Great Quintet, from late 1964 to early 1969, with Davis being the only constant member throughout.
The quintet underwent frequent personnel changes as it metamorphosed into a different ensemble in 1969. In the summer of 1955, after Davis performed at the Newport Jazz Festival, he was approached by Columbia Records, which offered him a contract contingent upon his forming a regular band.
Davis assembled his first regular quintet to meet a commitment at the Café Bohemia in July with Sonny Rollins on tenor saxophone, Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. By the late spring, he had hired the core of the Second Quintet with Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Tony Williams on drums. Initially, with George Coleman or Sam Rivers on tenor sax, the quintet was completed in late 1964 with the addition of saxophonist Wayne Shorter.
