This recording documents the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival appearances of the Miles Davis Sextet and The Thelonious Monk Quartet. The Monk Quartet performace is famous for the contributions of guest artist Pee Wee Russell, a dixieland clarinet legend, who made a memorable contribution to Monk's decidedly modern arrangements on "Nutty" and "Blue Monk." MILES DAVIS: Personnel: Miles Daivs (trumpet); Julian "Cannonball" Adderley (alto saxophone); John Coltrane (tenor sxophone); Bill Evans (piano); Paul Chambers (acoustic bass); Jimmy Cobb (drums). THELONIOUS MONK: Personnel: Thelonious Monk (piano); Charlie Rouse (tenor saxophone); Pee Wee Russell (clarinet); Butch Warren (acoustic bass); Frankie Dunlop (drums). This Columbia LP features Miles Davis' Sextet (with John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley) and the Thelonious Monk Quartet (with Pee Wee Russell) at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival; their rapid version of "Ah Leu Cha" is thunderous and "Straight No Chaser" swings like mad. This set also includes three laid-back selections ("On Green Dolphin Street," "Fran Dance," and "Stella by Starlight") from a slightly earlier studio date, along with a different version of "On Green Dolphin Street" from 1961. This classic music has since been reissued on CD. ~ Scott Yanow

• Genre: Pop
• Format: Vinyl
• Released: 04/29/2014