Miles Davis
ListenMilestones · 1947
Miles Davis All Stars — “Milestones,” the 1947 Savoy recording.
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1947 · Savoy Records
Milestones / Sippin’ at Bell’s
On 14 August 1947, Miles Davis made his first recording session as a leader. Charlie Parker, whose band had given him an apprenticeship in modern jazz, joined the ensemble now recording under the younger trumpeter’s name. [1]
| Accession | OMMA-0070 |
|---|---|
| Artist | Miles Davis All Stars |
| Release | 1947 · United States |
| Label | Savoy Records · 934 |
| Format | 10-inch shellac disc · 78 rpm |
| Issue | U.S. commercial issue |
| Runouts | Not documented |
| Recorded grade | VG+ |
Release history and significance
Davis had balanced late-night playing in New York with morning classes at Juilliard before leaving school to pursue jazz. His father supported that decision, urging him to find his own sound. Recording with Parker in 1945 and joining his new quintet in 1947 gave Davis a place at the centre of bebop. [1]
The August session brought pianist John Lewis into Davis’s first bandleading date for Savoy. “Milestones” and “Sippin’ at Bell’s” appeared together as Savoy 934, putting the Miles Davis All Stars name on a commercial single. [1] [2]
The original label credits “Milestones” to Davis; his official chronology attributes the tune to Lewis. This is the early bebop “Milestones,” a different composition from the one Davis recorded under the same title in 1958. [1] [3]
Market context
Discogs records sales for this Savoy 934 edition from US$21.53 to US$100, with a median of US$87.45, as listed on 13 September 2026. The most recent recorded sale was 29 November 2025. [2]
Physical Description
Black shellac with purple-and-gold Savoy labels and a prominent “BE-BOP” emblem. The photographed A-side label reads “MILESTONES,” credits the Miles Davis All Stars and prints the side number 934-A with S-3440 beneath it.
Condition
The disc is graded VG+.
Provenance
Acquired through Discogs from seller Rowdy7698 on 29 November 2025.
Sources
- Miles Davis, official 1945–1949 chronology. Juilliard and Parker years, first session as leader, and the attribution of the early “Milestones.”
- Discogs, Miles Davis All Stars, release 9497049. 1947 Savoy 934 edition, label images, coupling and sales history.
- Miles Davis, official Milestones album notes. The later 1958 Columbia recording and its modal title composition.
Catalogue text reviewed 13 September 2026.