Seven Steps to Heaven is a 1963 jazz composition by Miles Davis and Victor Feldman. It was introduced by the Miles Davis Quintet on the album Seven Steps to Heaven, released in 1963. The tune is a 32‑bar AABA piece that was originally played in an up‑tempo swing in the key of F major, with an intro, an interlude, and an ending that are the same. It was recorded in two sessions a month apart with different quintets, and the New York version of the album features Herbie Hancock on piano. Feldman co‑wrote the album’s two originals—Seven Steps to Heaven and Joshua—and although he played on some tracks, he did not stay with Davis in New York for the final studio take. Lyrics were later added by Cassandra Wilson and Jon Hendricks for other versions. The track is a landmark in Davis’s mid‑1960s work, sits in the jazz genre with hard bop and modal influences, and earned Grammy nominations in 1964 for Best Instrumental Jazz Performance - Large Group and Best Instrumental Jazz Performance - Soloist Or Small Group.
