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b. 26 May 1926, Alton, Illinois, USA,
d. 28 September 1991. Miles was born into a comparatively wealthy middle-class
family and both his mother and sister were capable musicians. Davis was
given a trumpet for his 13th birthday by his dentist father, who could
not have conceived that his gift would set his son on the road to becoming
one of the giant figures in the development of jazz. Notwithstanding his
outstanding talent as master of the trumpet, Davis’ versatility encompassed
fluegelhorn and keyboards together with a considerable gift as a composer.
This extraordinary list of talents earned Davis an unassailable reputation
as the greatest leader/catalyst in the history of jazz. Such accolades
were not used lightly, and Davis can justifiably be termed a ‘musical genius’.
Davis quickly progressed from his high school band into Eddie Randall's
band in 1941, after his family had moved to St. Louis. He studied at the
Juilliard School of Music in New York in 1945 before joining Charlie Parker,
with whom he had previously played in the Billy Eckstine band.
By 1948 Miles had played or recorded
with many jazz giants, most notably Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny
Carter, John Lewis, Illinois Jacquet and Gerry Mulligan. That year was
to be a landmark for jazz and Davis, in collaboration with Gil Evans, made
a series of 78s which were eventually released in 1957 as the highly influential
album THE BIRTH OF THE COOL. Miles had now refined his innovative style
of playing, which was based upon understatement rather than the hurried
action of the great bebop players.
During the early '50s Davis became
dependant on heroin and his career was put on hold for a lengthy period.
This spell of inactivity lasted until as late as 1954. The following year
his seminal quintet included variously Red Garland, John Coltrane, Charles
Mingus, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones, Bill Evans and Sonny Rollins.
Among their output were the acclaimed series of collections COOKIN’, RELAXIN’,
WORKIN’ and STEAMIN’. During this time Miles was consistently voted the
number 1 artist in all the major jazz polls. Now no longer dependant on
drugs, he set about collaborating with Gil Evans once again. The series
of orchestral albums made with Evans between 1957 and 1959 have all become
classics; MILES AHEAD, PORGY AND BESS and the sparsely beautiful SKETCHES
OF SPAIN (influenced by composer Joaquin Rodrigo). Evans was able to blend
lush and full orchestration with Miles’ trumpet—allowing it the space and
clarity it richly deserved. Miles went on further, assembling a sextet
featuring a spectacular line-up including Coltrane, Chambers, Evans, Jimmy
Cobb and Cannonball Adderley. Two further landmark albums during this fertile
period were the aptly titled MILESTONES followed by KIND OF BLUE. The latter
album is cited by many critics as the finest in jazz history. More than
30 years later his albums are still available. They form an essential part
of any jazz record collection, with KIND OF BLUE at the top of the list.
So What, the opening track, has been covered by dozens of artists, the
most recent offerings have been from guitarist Ronnie Jordan, Larry Carlton,
saxophonist Candy Dulfer and reggae star Smiley Culture who added his own
lyrics and performed it in the film Absolute Beginners. Ian Carr, Davis’
leading biographer, perceptively stated of KIND OF BLUE in 1982: ‘The more
it is listened to, the more it reveals new delights and fresh depths’.
In 1959, following the bizarre arrest
and beating he received from the New York Police, Davis took out a lawsuit,
which he subsequently and wisely dropped. Davis entered the '60s comfortably,
still the leading innovator in jazz, and shrugged off attempts from John
Coltrane to dethrone him in the jazz polls. Miles chose to keep to his
sparse style, allowing his musicians air and range. In 1964 while the world
experienced Beatlemania, Miles created another musical landmark when he
assembled arguably his finest line-up. The combination of Herbie Hancock,
Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter and Tony Williams delivered the monumental E.S.P.
in 1965. He continued with this acoustic line-up through another three
recordings; including MILES SMILES and ending with NEFERTITI. By the time
of FILLES DE KILIMANJARO Miles had gradually electrified his various groups
and took bold steps towards rock music integrating multiple electric keyboards
and utilizing a wah-wah pedal connected to his electrified trumpet, additionally
his own fascination with the possibilities of electric guitar, as demonstrated
by Jimi Hendrix, took an increasing position in his bands. Young American
west coast rock musicians had begun to produce a form of music based upon
improvisation (mostly through the use of hallucinogenics). This clearly
interested Miles who saw the potential of blending traditional rock rhythms
with jazz, although he was often contemptuous of some white rock musicians
at this time. The decade closed with his band being accepted by rock fans.
Miles appeared at major festivals with deliriously stoned audiences appreciating
his line-up which now featured the brilliant electric guitarist John McLaughlin,
of whom Miles stated in deference to black musicians. ‘Show me a black
who can play like him, and I'd have him instead’. Other outstanding musicians
Davis employed included Keith Jarrett, Airto, Chick Corea, Dave Holland,
Joe Zawinul, Billy Cobham and Jack DeJohnette. Two major albums from this
period were IN A SILENT WAY and BITCHES BREW, which unconsciously invented
jazz-rock and what was later to be called fusion. These records were marketed
as rock albums, and consequently appeared in the regular charts. By the
early '70s Miles had alienated himself from the mainstream jazz purists
by continuing to flirt with rock music. In 1975, after a succession of
personal upheavals including a car crash, further drug problems, a shooting
incident, more police harassment and eventual arrest, Miles, not surprisingly,
retired. During this time he became seriously ill, and it was generally
felt that he would never play again.
As unpredictable as ever, Davis returned
six years later healthy and fit with the comeback album, THE MAN WITH THE
HORN. He assembled a new band and received favourable reviews for live
performances. Among the personnel were guitarist John Scofield and saxophonist
Bill Evans. On the predominantly funk-based YOU'RE UNDER ARREST, he tackled
pure pop songs, and although unambitious by jazz standards, tracks like
Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time and Michael Jackson's Human Nature were
given Miles’ brilliant master touch. The aggressive disco album TUTU followed
with his trumpet played through a synthesizer. A recent soundtrack recording
for the Dennis Hopper film, The Hot Spot, found Davis playing the blues
alongside Taj Mahal, John Lee Hooker, Tim Drummond and Roy Rogers.
During his last years Davis settled
into a comfortable pattern of touring the world and recording, able to
dictate the pace of his life with the knowledge that ecstatic audiences
were waiting for him everywhere. Following further bouts of ill health
Miles was admitted to hospital in California and died in September 1991.
Miles was a ‘genius’, a ‘cool dude’ and was totally uncompromising. The
worldwide obituaries were neither sycophantic nor morose. All the great
things had already been said about Miles for many years. Django Bates stated
that his personal favourite Davis recordings were those between 1926 and
mid-1991. Ian Carr added, in his impressive obituary, with regard to Miles’
music; ‘unflagging intelligence, great courage, integrity, honesty and
a sustained spirit of enquiry always in the pursuit of art—never mere experimentation
for its own sake’. Miles Davis’ influence on rock music is considerable;
his influence on jazz is inestimabl
Discography
THE COMPLETE LIVE AT THE PLUGGED NICKEL
1965 (1995)
Primary Artist
THE BLUE NOTE AND CAPITOL RECORDINGS
(1993)
Primary Artist
MILES AHEAD - THE MUSIC OF MILES DAVIS-VIDEO
(1993)
Primary Artist
THE BALLAD ARTISTRY OF MILES DAVIS
(1992)
Primary Artist
BEST OF MILES DAVIS, CAPITOL/BLUE NOTE
YEARS (1992)
Primary Artist
DOO-BOP (1992)
Primary Artist
I LIKE JAZZ: THE ESSENCE OF MILES DAVIS
(1991)
Primary Artist
MILES IN PARIS-VIDEO (1990)
Primary Artist
AMANDLA (1989)
Primary Artist
BALLADS (1988)
Primary Artist
THE COLUMBIA YEARS 1955-1985 (1988)
Primary Artist
FIRST MILES (1988)
Primary Artist
TUTU (1986)
Primary Artist
YOU'RE UNDER ARREST (1985)
Primary Artist
AURA (1984)
Primary Artist
DECOY (1983)
Primary Artist
THE MAN WITH THE HORN (1981)
Primary Artist
CIRCLE IN THE ROUND (1979)
Primary Artist
AGARTHA (1975)
Primary Artist
PANGAEA (1975)
Primary Artist
BIG FUN (1974)
Primary Artist
ON THE CORNER (1972)
Primary Artist
LIVE EVIL (1971)
Primary Artist
AT THE FILLMORE (1970)
Primary Artist
A TRIBUTE TO JACK JOHNSON (1970)
Primary Artist
BITCHES BREW (1969)
Primary Artist
IN A SILENT WAY (1969)
Primary Artist
FILLES DE KILIMANJARO (1968)
Primary Artist
MILES IN THE SKY (1968)
Primary Artist
NEFERTITI (1967)
Primary Artist
SORCERER (1967)
Primary Artist
COOKIN' AT THE PLUGGED NICKEL (1965)
Primary Artist
E.S.P. (1965)
Primary Artist
FOUR & MORE: RECORDED LIVE IN CONCERT
(1964)
Primary Artist
MY FUNNY VALENTINE + FOUR & MORE:
THE COMPLETE CONCERT 1964 (1964)
Primary Artist
MY FUNNY VALENTINE: MILES IN CONCERT
(1964)
Primary Artist
QUIET NIGHTS (1963)
Primary Artist
SEVEN STEPS TO HEAVEN (1963)
Primary Artist
AT CARNEGIE HALL, 1961 (1961)
Primary Artist
FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE BLACKHAWK, VOL.
1 (1961)
Primary Artist
LIVE MILES: MORE MUSIC FROM THE LEGENDARY
CARNEGIE HALL CONCERT (1961)
Primary Artist
SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE BLACKHAWK, VOL.
2 (1961)
Primary Artist
SOMEDAY MY PRINCE WILL COME (COLUMBIA)
(1961)
Primary Artist
SOMEDAY MY PRINCE WILL COME (MOBILE
FIDELITY) (1961)
Primary Artist
SKETCHES OF SPAIN (1960)
Primary Artist
KIND OF BLUE (1959)
Primary Artist
KIND OF BLUE (MASTER SOUND) (1959)
Primary Artist
58 SESSIONS (1958)
Primary Artist
MILESTONES (1958)
Primary Artist
PORGY & BESS (1958)
Primary Artist
MILES AHEAD (1957)
Primary Artist
COLLECTORS' ITEMS (1956)
Primary Artist
ROUND ABOUT MIDNIGHT (1956)
Primary Artist
BLUE MOODS (1955)
Primary Artist
THE NEW MILES DAVIS QUINTET (1955)
Primary Artist
BAGS' GROOVE (1954)
Primary Artist
BLUE HAZE (1954)
Primary Artist
MILES DAVIS AND HORNS (1953)
Primary Artist
BIRTH OF THE COOL (1950)
Primary Artist
BASIC MILES: THE CLASSIC PERFORMANCES
OF MILES DAVIS
Primary Artist
BEST OF MILES DAVIS
Primary Artist
THE BIRDLAND SESSIONS
Primary Artist
BLUE COTE
Primary Artist
BOPPING THE BLUES
Primary Artist
CHRONICLE: THE COMPLETE PRESTIGE RECORDINGS
Primary Artist
COMPACT JAZZ
Primary Artist
DOUBLE IMAGE
Primary Artist
GREATEST HITS
Primary Artist
JAZZ CLASSICS, VOL 1
Primary Artist
LIVE IN ZURICH 1960
Primary Artist
MILES & COLTRANE
Primary Artist
MILES DAVIS
Primary Artist
MILES DAVIS (BELLA MUSICA)
Primary Artist
MILES DAVIS AND THE JAZZ GIANTS
Primary Artist
MILES DAVIS AND THE MODERN JAZZ GIANTS
Primary Artist
THE MUSINGS OF MILES
Primary Artist
PARIS, FRANCE
Primary Artist
PLAYS CLASSIC BALLADS
Primary Artist
THE REAL BIRTH OF THE COOL
Primary Artist
SKETCHES OF SPAIN/IN A SILENT WAY
Primary Artist
VOLUME 1
Primary Artist
VOLUME 2
Primary Artist
BIRD'S BEST BOP ON VERVE (1995)
Performer
CARVIN' THE BIRD (1994)
Performer
Trumpet
LIVE AT NEWPORT, 1958 & 1963 (1994)
Performer
Trumpet
VERVE JAZZ MASTERS 15 (1994)
Performer
16 MOST REQUESTED SONGS (1993)
Performer
Trumpet
THE LAST GIANT: THE JOHN COLTRANE ANTHOLOGY
(1993)
Performer
LIVE AT MONTREUX (1993)
Performer
Trumpet
LIVE AT MONTREUX-VIDEO (1993)
Performer
Trumpet
THE SUN DON'T LIE (1993)
Performer
Trumpet
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO JOHN COLTRANE-VIDEO
(1993)
Performer
THE BIRTH OF THE COOL, VOL. 2 (1992)
Performer
Trumpet
CAPRI (1992)
Performer
Trumpet
THE COMPLETE PRESTIGE RECORDINGS (1992)
Performer
MILAGRO (1992)
Performer
Trumpet
DINGO (1991)
Performer
Trumpet
JAZZ MASTERS:
VINTAGE COLLECTION VOL. 2 (1960-61)-VIDEO (1991)
Performer
JAZZ MASTERS:
VINTAGE COLLECTION VOLUMES 1 & 2-VIDEO (1991)
Performer
SMITHSONIAN COLLECTION
OF CLASSIC JAZZ, VOL. 4 (1991)
Performer
SMITHSONIAN COLLECTION
OF CLASSIC JAZZ, VOL. 5 (1991)
Performer
YOU WON'T FORGET
ME (1991)
Performer
BACK ON THE BLOCK
(1989)
Performer
Trumpet
ARTISTRY IN JAZZ
- BLACK LION SAMPLER (1988)
Performer
BEBOP & BIRD,
VOLUME 1 (1988)
Performer
BIRD: THE COMPLETE
CHARLIE PARKER ON VERVE (1988)
Performer
BIRD: THE ORIGINAL
RECORDINGS OF CHARLIE PARKER (1988)
Performer
C.K. (1988)
Performer
THE METRONOME
ALL-STAR BANDS (1988)
Performer
Trumpet
COMPACT JAZZ
(1987)
Performer
SUN CITY: ARTISTS
UNITED AGAINST APARTHEID (1985)
Performer
Trumpet
BILLIE, ELLA,
LENA, SARAH! (1980)
Performer
Trumpet
MILES SMILES
(1966)
Performer
Trumpet
COPENHAGEN 1960
(1960)
Performer
Trumpet
GREEN DOLPHIN
STREET (1960)
Performer
Trumpet
LIVE IN STOCKHOLM
1960 (1960)
Performer
Trumpet
ASCENSEUR POUR
L'ECHAFAUD (1958)
Performer
Trumpet
LEGRAND JAZZ
(1958)
Performer
Trumpet
SOMETHIN' ELSE
(BLUE NOTE) (1958)
Performer
Trumpet
SOMETHIN' ELSE
(GOLD DISC) (1958)
Performer
Trumpet
THE CHARLIE PARKER
STORY (1956)
Performer
Trumpet
COOKIN' (1956)
Performer
Trumpet
COOKIN' (GOLD
DISC) (1956)
Performer
Trumpet
NOUVELLE VAGUE
ON CD (SOUNDTRACKS) (1956)
Performer
RELAXIN' WITH
THE MILES DAVIS QUINTET (1956)
Performer
Trumpet
RELAXIN' WITH
THE MILES DAVIS QUINTET (GOLD DISC) (1956)
Performer
Trumpet
STEAMIN' WITH
THE MILES DAVIS QUINTET (1956)
Performer
Trumpet
STEAMIN' WITH
THE MILES DAVIS QUINTET (GOLD DISC) (1956)
Performer
Trumpet
WORKIN' WITH
THE MILES DAVIS QUINTET (1956)
Performer
Trumpet
WORKIN' WITH
THE MILES DAVIS QUINTET (GOLD DISC) (1956)
Performer
Trumpet
QUINTET/SEXTET
(1955)
Performer
Trumpet
WALKIN' (1954)
Performer
Trumpet
AT LAST! (1953)
Performer
Trumpet
WITH THE MODERN
JAZZ QUARTET (1953)
Performer
Piano
DIG (1951)
Performer
Trumpet
SWEDISH SCHNAPPS
(1951)
Performer
Trumpet
AT CARNEGIE HALL,
CHRISTMAS `49 (1950)
Performer
CHARLIE PARKER
STORY ON DIAL VOL.1-WEST COAST DAYS (1947)
Performer
CHARLIE PARKER
STORY ON DIAL VOL.2-NEW YORK DAYS (1947)
Performer
HOLLYWOOD STAMPEDE
(1947)
Performer
LEGENDARY DIAL
MASTERS, VOLS. 1 & 2 (1947)
Performer
BEST OF BIRD
ON SAVOY
Performer
THE BIRD RETURNS
Performer
Trumpet
BIRD: THE SAVOY
RECORDINGS (MASTER TAKES '44-'48)
Performer
BROADCAST PERFORMANCES,
V. 2
Performer
CHARLIE PARKER
MEMORIAL VOL. 1
Performer
Trumpet
CHARLIE PARKER
MEMORIAL VOL. 2 - (THE GENIUS OF CHARLIE PARKER VOL. 3)
Performer
Trumpet
THE COMPLETE
DIAL SESSIONS 1945-47
Performer
Trumpet
THE COMPLETE
SAVOY STUDIO SESSIONS
Performer
Trumpet
CONCEPTION
Performer
Trumpet
FABULOUS FATS
NAVARRO, VOL I
Performer
THE GENIUS OF
CHARLIE PARKER
Performer
Trumpet
THE IMMORTAL
CHARLIE PARKER
Performer
Trumpet
JINGLE BELL JAZZ
Performer
JOHN COLTRANE
AND THE JAZZ GIANTS
Performer
Trumpet
THE LEGENDARY
CONCERT, STOCKHOLM, MARCH 22, 1960
Performer
Trumpet
LIVE BROADCASTS
1939-48
Performer
LIVE IN NEW YORK
Performer
LIVE IN STOCKHOLM
1960
Performer
Trumpet
LIVE USA 1961
& 1963
Performer
MILES AND MONK
AT NEWPORT
Performer
NEWLY DISCOVERED
SIDES BY CHARLIE PARKER
Performer
Trumpet
OUR DELIGHT
Performer
Trumpet
PRISONER OF LOVE
Performer
PROVISION
Performer
RARA AVIS (RARE
BIRD)
Performer
THE SAVOY ORIGINAL
MASTER TAKES
Performer
THE SAVOY RECORDINGS
MASTER TAKES VOL.1
Performer
SIESTA
Performer
Producer
Trumpet
THE STORY OF
JAZZ-VIDEO
Performer
TUNE UP
Performer
Trumpet
WHY DO I LOVE
YOU?: RARE BROADCASTS 1947-48
Performer
Trumpet
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