Role

:

Composer Conductor Performer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

May 26, 1926 in Alton, IL

Death

:

September 28, 1991 in Santa Monica, CA

 

Miles Davis was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Born on May 26, 1926, in Alton, Illinois, Davis grew up in a middle-class family and began playing the trumpet at the age of 13. He was initially inspired by the music of his father, a dentist who played the violin, and by the recordings of jazz greats such as Louis Armstrong and Roy Eldridge. Davis attended the Juilliard School of Music in New York City but dropped out after a year to pursue a career in jazz. He began playing with various bands in the late 1940s, including those led by Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. In 1949, he formed his own group, the Miles Davis Nonet, which featured a unique blend of jazz and classical music. Davis's early recordings, such as "Birth of the Cool" (1949-50), were characterized by a cool, understated style that contrasted with the more frenetic bebop of the time. He continued to experiment with different styles throughout his career, incorporating elements of rock, funk, and world music into his music. One of Davis's most famous albums is "Kind of Blue" (1959), which is widely regarded as one of the greatest jazz albums of all time. The album features a group of musicians who would go on to become legends in their own right, including John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, and Bill Evans. The album's modal jazz style, which emphasized improvisation over traditional chord progressions, was a departure from Davis's earlier work and had a profound influence on the development of jazz. Davis continued to push the boundaries of jazz throughout the 1960s and 1970s, incorporating elements of rock and funk into his music. His album "Bitches Brew" (1970) is considered a landmark in the development of jazz fusion, a style that blended jazz improvisation with the rhythms and instrumentation of rock music. The album featured a large ensemble of musicians, including saxophonist Wayne Shorter and guitarist John McLaughlin. Davis's later years were marked by health problems and a decline in his musical output. He suffered a stroke in 1984 that left him unable to play the trumpet for several years. He returned to the stage in the late 1980s, but his performances were often erratic and inconsistent. Despite his personal struggles, Davis's influence on jazz and popular music cannot be overstated. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 and received numerous other honors and awards throughout his career. He died on September 28, 1991, at the age of 65, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire musicians to this day.

More....