Miles Davis

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Charlie Parker, Tommy Potter, Miles Davis, Duke Jordan, Max Roach (Gottlieb 06851)

Howard McGhee, Brick Fleagle and Miles Davis, ca September 1947 (Gottlieb)

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Miles Davis (Antibes Juan-les-Pins 1963)

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Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Davis adopted a variety of musical directions in a five-decade career that kept him at the forefront of many major stylistic developments in jazz.

Early Life

Born in Alton, Illinois, Davis grew up in a wealthy family in East St. Louis. He became interested in music during his childhood and began playing the trumpet at the age of 13. His father, Miles Dewey Davis Jr., was a dentist, and his mother, Cleota Mae (Henry) Davis, was a music teacher. Davis was given his first trumpet by his father and took lessons from Elwood Buchanan, a friend of his father. Buchanan stressed the importance of playing without vibrato, which influenced Davis's playing style.

Career

Bebop and Birth of the Cool

In 1944, Davis moved to New York City to study at the Juilliard School of Music but soon dropped out to pursue a career in jazz. He quickly became involved in the bebop scene and played alongside such jazz legends as Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. In 1949, Davis released Birth of the Cool, a series of recordings that became a landmark in the history of the cool jazz movement.

Modal Jazz and Kind of Blue

In the late 1950s, Davis formed the Miles Davis Quintet, which included John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones. This group was pivotal in the development of modal jazz, culminating in the 1959 release of Kind of Blue, the best-selling jazz album of all time.

Electric Miles and Fusion

In the late 1960s, Davis began experimenting with electric instruments, leading to the creation of jazz-rock fusion. Albums like In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew were groundbreaking, blending jazz improvisation with rock rhythms and electronic effects.

Personal Life and Death

Davis struggled with drug addiction throughout his life, which affected his career and personal relationships. He took a five-year hiatus from music in 1975 to deal with his addiction and health issues. Davis returned to music in the 1980s, continuing to innovate until his death in 1991 from respiratory failure and pneumonia.

Legacy

Miles Davis's influence on jazz is immeasurable. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006, and he has been awarded several Grammy Awards. His approach to music, characterized by his use of space, minimalism, and a quest for fresh sounds, has influenced countless musicians across various genres.