In 1953, Miles Davis sat in one Sunday afternoon at the Lighthouse. No big deal; lots of people sat in at the Lighthouse, and Davis was no more famous than most and less famous than many. Fame, big fame, was two or three years away for Miles. There was no compelling reason to issue the recordings made that afternoon. Contemporary's Les Koenig probably figured he had more interesting All-Stars material in the can, so the tapes sat around for three decades. And when they emerged, guess what: they were interesting, not just historically but musically. Miles solos on classics by Thelonious Monk and Dizzy Gillespie and on a Shorty Rogers original that has an affinity for Tadd Dameron's "Good Bait." The other tracks are an intriguing drum solo by MaxRoach and a lovely ballad by guests Chet Baker and Russ Freeman. This was not just another Sunday at the Lighthouse.

with Rolf Ericson, Bud Shank, Bob Cooper, Lorraine Geller, Howard Rumsey, Max Roach, Chet Baker, Russ Freeman