'Round Midnight is a 1944 song by jazz musician Thelonious Monk. It is thought that Monk originally composed the song sometime between 1940 and 1941, however Harry Colomby claims that Monk may have written an early version around 1936 (at the age of 19) with the title "Grand Finale". 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Thelonius Monk, as featured on the cover of his 1956 album, Brilliant Corners Thelonious Sphere Monk (January 18, 1916) – February 17, 1982) was a jazz pianist and composer. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... For the movie, see 1941 (film) 1941 (MCMXLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

According to Colomby, Cootie Williams wanted to record and publish the song, and he offered Monk $300 as an advance. As part of the deal, Monk gave Williams credit for collaboration. The Cootie Williams orchestra eventually recorded the song in 1944, with Monk's protege Bud Powell on piano, and the band used it as their theme song. Along with Williams, Monk was credited as co-composer. Bernie Hanighen added lyrics to the tune, and Monk had to share composer credit and royalties with Williams and Hanighen. Monk eventually recorded the tune several times - his first recording seems to have been as part of the Dizzy Gillespie big band in 1946. Dizzy added an introduction and cadenza which Monk eventually incorporated into his own performance. Monk first recorded the song as leader on a 21 November 1947 session for Blue Note Records. Charles Melvin (Cootie) Williams (1910-1985) was an American jazz and rhythm and blues trumpeter. ... Earl Rudolph Bud Powell (September 27, 1924 - July 31, 1966) is widely regarded as one of the most technically gifted and influential pianists in the history of jazz. ... Dizzy Gillespie photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1955 John Birks Dizzy Gillespie (October 21, 1917 - January 6, 1993) was born in Cheraw, South Carolina. ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... A cadenza is usually now taken to mean a portion near the end of a movement of a concerto (though it can be at any point in a concerto; an example is Tchaikovskys First Piano Concerto, where in the first five minutes a cadenza is used) in which the... November 21 is the 325th day of the year (326th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Blue Note Records is a jazz record label, established in 1939 by Alfred Lion and Francis Wolff. ...

In 1955, Miles Davis played the song at the Newport Jazz Festival, with Monk on piano. Davis played a solo which showed his return to form after several troubled years, and reawakened critical interest in his career, leading to the formation of his quintet with John Coltrane, and signing to Columbia Records. Davis's first album for Columbia, released the following year, was called 'Round About Midnight (the song is often given the variant title), and "'Round Midnight" was the opening track. A 2005 CD reissue of the album includes the Newport performance. Two recordings by the Miles Davis Quintet were made in 1956 - for the Columbia album, and as part of the marathon sessions for Prestige Records which resulted in Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet and three companion albums. The version recorded for Prestige was eventually released on Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Giants, alongside 1954 recordings of other songs on which Monk was the pianist. Davis had previously recorded "'Round Midnight" for Prestige in 1953 (with a group including Sonny Rollins and Charlie Parker), and he recorded it again in 1958 as part of the Michel Legrand orchestra. The song remained in Davis's live set until 1969, at a time when he had largely abandoned other jazz standards and was exploring jazz fusion, and several concert recordings by Davis have been commercially released. 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Davis 1959 album Kind of Blue, likely the best-selling jazz album ever. ... The Newport Jazz Festival is a music festival held every August in Newport, Rhode Island. ... John Coltrane John William Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. ... Columbia Records is the oldest continually used brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888. ... Round About Midnight is an album made in 1956 (see 1956 in music) by jazz musician Miles Davis. ... 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Prestige Records was a record label founded by Bob Weinstock in 1949, initially as New Jazz. ... Relaxin with the Miles Davis Quintet is an album recorded in 1956 by Miles Davis. ... 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... An early Rollins picture graces the cover of Volume One Theodore Walter (Sonny) Rollins (born September 7, 1930 in New York City) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist. ... Charlie Parker Charles Parker, Jr. ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Michel Legrand (born February 24, 1932) is a French composer, arranger, conductor and pianist. ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday For other uses, see Number 1969. ... Bitches Brew (1970) by Miles Davis is probably the most important early fusion album Jazz fusion (sometimes referred to simply as fusion) is a musical genre that loosely encompasses the merging of jazz with other styles, particularly rock, funk, R&B, and world music. ...

As with many of his compositions, Monk made further studio recordings of the tune throughout his career, including a solo version recorded for the 1968 Columbia Records Greatest Hits. Monk's last recording session, on 15 November 1971 in London, also included a solo rendition of "'Round Midnight". The song has since become an established jazz standard and is one of the most recorded jazz songs. 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... Columbia Records is the oldest continually used brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888. ... November 15 is the 319th day of the year (320th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 46 days remaining. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ... Part of the London skyline viewed from the South Bank London is the most populous city in the European Union, with an estimated population on 1 January 2005 of 7,500,000 and a metropolitan area population of between 12 and 14 million. ... Jazz standard refers to a tune that is widely known, performed, and recorded among jazz musicians. ...

References

• Gourse, Leslie. (1998). Straight, No Chaser: The Life and Genius of Thelonious Monk. Schirmer Books. ISBN 0825672295