Miles Davis, a legendary jazz musician, was born in 1926 in East St. Louis to a wealthy family. He honed his craft in high school and played with Charlie Parker’s band before leading his own band and introducing Cool Jazz. Davis constantly evolved his music and worked with other jazz greats. He had personal struggles but always returned to his passion for music until his death in 1991.
Miles Davis is sometimes described as the ultimate jazz icon. Others call him a musical visionary or simply one of the greatest jazz musicians who ever lived. His playing is so clear and beautiful that it has been described by some as if his trumpet were singing.
Born in 1926 in East St. Louis, Miles Davis came from a wealthy family. His grandfather was the first black landowner in Arkansas and Miles’ father was a successful dentist and racehorse breeder. Young Miles Davis was a good, if not exceptional, trumpeter.
While in high school, Davis honed his craft and toured with Billy Eckstine’s band. He then moved to New York on the pretext that he would study at the Julliard School of Music. He actually started playing with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, becoming the trumpeter in Charlie Parker’s band for three years.
In 1949, Miles Davis was leading his own band. He broke with tradition by introducing into his band musicians playing unusual instruments, such as the tuba and French horn. He was born a more subtle style of jazz. Known as Cool Jazz, the nine-piece musical group, or nonet, has influenced a huge number of musicians, mainly on the west coast of America. The Birth of the Cool album became an instant hit.
In 1955, Davis gave a triumphant performance at the Newport Jazz Festival. Always improvising and changing his musical style, Miles Davis has worked with Herbie Hancock, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderly and many other big names in the jazz world. In 1959, Davis recorded the groundbreaking album Kind of Blue.
The technique used by Miles Davis that set him apart from other trumpeters was his use of spacing. He used quiet spaces in his solos to produce a more relaxed sound. He also played in a lower register to produce a nice tone. From cool jazz, to jazz-fusion, to funk, Miles Davis’ music was constantly evolving.
Like many other jazz musicians, Miles Davis has had his share of personal demons. He broke his heroin and cocaine habit with willpower alone. Davis also suffered from a number of serious illnesses and once almost died in a car accident. Each time, until his death in 1991, Davis fought back and returned to his only passion, music.
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