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Porgy and Bess  is a studio album by the jazz musician Miles Davis, released in March 1959 on Columbia Records. The album features arrangements by Davis and collaborator Gil Evans from George Gershwin’s 1935 opera of the same name. The album was recorded in four sessions on July 22, July 29, August 4, and August 18, 1958, at Columbia’s 30th Street Studio in New York City. It is the third collaboration between Davis and Evans and has garnered much critical acclaim since its release, being acknowledged by some music critics as the best of their collaborations. Jazz critics have regarded the album as historically important.

Track listing
All compositions written by George Gershwin, except otherwise noted. (Although Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward wrote lyrics to the opera Porgy and Bess, these recordings are instrumental.)

Side one
1. 8/4/58 “Buzzard Song” George Gershwin 4:07
2. 7/29/58 “Bess, You Is My Woman Now” George Gershwin 5:10
3. 7/22/58 “Gone” Gil Evans 3:37
4. 7/22/58 “Gone, Gone, Gone” George Gershwin 2:03
5. 8/4/58 “Summertime” George Gershwin 3:17
6. 8/4/58 “Oh Bess, Oh Where’s My Bess” George Gershwin 4:18
Side two
Track Recorded Song Writer Time
1. 8/4/58 “Prayer (Oh Doctor Jesus)” George Gershwin 4:39
2. 7/29/58 “Fisherman, Strawberry and Devil Crab” George Gershwin 4:06
3. 7/22/58 “My Man’s Gone Now” George Gershwin 6:14
4. 7/29/58 “It Ain’t Necessarily So” George Gershwin 4:23
5. 7/29/58 “Here Come de Honey Man” George Gershwin 1:18
6. 8/18/58 “I Wants to Stay Here (a.k.a. I Loves You, Porgy)” George Gershwin 3:39
7. 8/4/58 “There’s a Boat That’s Leaving Soon for New York” George Gershwin 3:23

Personnel

Miles Davis – trumpet, flugelhorn
Ernie Royal, Bernie Glow, Johnny Coles and Louis Mucci – trumpet
Dick Hixson, Frank Rehak, Jimmy Cleveland and Joe Bennett – trombone
Willie Ruff, Julius Watkins and Gunther Schuller – horn
Bill Barber – tuba
Jerome Richardson (tracks 1.1, 2.1, 2.7) and Phil Bodner (tracks 1.2–5, 2.2–7), Romeo Penque – flute, alto flute, clarinet
Danny Bank – alto flute, bass flute, bass clarinet
Cannonball Adderley – alto saxophone
Paul Chambers – bass
Philly Joe Jones – drums (except tracks 1.2, 2.2, 2.10–11)
Jimmy Cobb – drums (tracks 1.2, 2.2, 2.10–11)
Gil Evans – arranger, conductor

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Released: March 9, 1959
Recorded: July 22 & 29 and August 4 & 18, 1958
Studios: Columbia 30th Street,
New York City
Length: 50:53
Labels: Columbia
Producer: Cal Lampley