The Theme

[Hardbopjazz]

How did this tune become the closing number that so many artists used at gigs? Anyone have any clue as to why?

[medjuck]

Miles was incredibly popular n the mid-late '50s. His repertoire became everybody's repertoire.

[Larry Kart]

How did this tune become the closing number that so many artists used at gigs? Anyone have any clue as to why?

Because it was a bit less annoying than the competition, e.g. Gerry Mulligan's end-of-set sign off of the time, Julius Fucik's "Entry of the Gladiators":

For example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zrAWk0WTSk

Aieee!

[JSngry]

Wasn't Blakey (at least) using it before Miles? Or not?

[Big Wheel]

Wasn't Blakey (at least) using it before Miles? Or not?

Did Blakey play/record it before At the Cafe Bohemia vol. 1 on 11/23/55? If not then Miles beat him by a week - the first entry in the Losin discography is for the first Prestige quintet record on 11/16/55.

Edit - Blakey did play it on the Paul Bley Debut date in 1953, unless it's a different tune by the same title (don't have the record).

Edit 2: it's indeed the same tune...just checked Rhapsody and you can hear the head in the sound sample.

Edited July 20, 2012 by Big Wheel

[medjuck]

I think I've read that it originated with Kenny Dorham.

[brownie]

Before the Blakey/Miles 1955 versions there was the Sonny Clark interpretation on the Uptown 'Sonny Clark Oakland' Uptown CD. It was recorded on January 13, 1955. The tune is credited to Kenny Dorham.

In the liner notes to the CD, Bob Blumenthal writes that Sonny Clark recorded it with Buddy DeFranco in August 1954 on the In a Mellow Mood album. On that LP the tune was titled 'The Bright One' and credited to DeFranco and Kenny Drew!

[Big Wheel]

FWIW, there's a tune on this Dorham/McGhee/Jones record by the same title...only it's actually what we know of as "Bags' Groove."

[medjuck]

Of course what we have on record may not prove much. When ddid it begin being used in clubs?