miles davis

Miles Dewey Davis III

(May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991)



Controversial and influential icon of jazz and rock whose unique and haunting work on the trumpet played a key part in bebop, cool jazz, modal, and fusion.



He learned music from his mother during his youth in St. Louis. When his father sent him to the Juilliard School of Music in New York, Davis sought out saxophonist Charlie Parker.  He dropped out of school and began playing professionally in clubs and recording studios, leading his own group within a year.  










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'Now's The Time' was one of the songs recorded during the first of the legendary Savoy Sessions 1945 with a nineteen year old Davis playing trumpet with Charlie Parker on alto sax, Curley Russell on bass, Max Roach on drums and "Hen Gates" (Dizzy Gillespie) playing piano.

'Boplicity' came from his groundbreaking 'Birth of the Cool' compilation that marked his turn from the hard edge of bop to a more introspective sound. It was recorded in 1949 and 1950; but not released until 1957. The song was credited to Cleo Henry and Gil Evans. Henry was a pseudonym based on his Davis' mother's maiden name that he never used again.

'Doxy' was composed by Sonny Rollins. It first appeared on Davis' 'Bags' Groove', performed with Davis on trumpet, Rollins on tenor saxophone, Horace Silver on piano, Percy Heath on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums.

''Round Midnight' was the centerpiece of Davis' debut on Columbia Records 'Round About Midnight' recorded in 1955. The song was composed by Thelonious Monk and features a saxophone solo from John Coltrane.

'Milestones' was originally called 'Miles' when the album 'Milestones' came out in 1958. It was his first foray into modal jazz. It features Miles on trumpet, Cannonball Adderley on alto saxophone, Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on double bass, Philly Joe Jones on drums,

and a fabulous solo from John Coltrane on tenor saxophone.

The impressionistic modal jazz of 'So What' opens his seminal 1959 'Kind of Blue' album.

The title track to his 1963 'Seven Steps To Heaven' was co-written with pianist Victor Feldman, who Davis replaced with Herbie Hancock for the album. It includes George Coleman on tenor saxophone, Ron Carter on double bass, and Tony Williams on drums.

'Footprints' appeared on his 1967 album 'Miles Smiles'. It was composed by saxophonist Wayne Shorter.

'Spanish Key' is from his 1970 jazz fusion double album 'Bitches Brew' featuring what Miles called "the best damn rock and roll band in the world."

'Black Satin' is from his 1973 album 'On The Corner' which saw Davis experimenting with funk and electronic music.

The title track to his 1986 album 'Tutu' was written by bassist Marcus Miller, and dedicated to Archbishop Desmond Tutu.