miles davis -...
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Miles DavisBy: Jane R., Amillio T., Maria S.
Miles Davis-Miles Davis is a world renowned Jazz trumpet
player and composer, who is considered an
influential musician within the genre of Jazz in
the 20th century.
-Miles is African American.
-His new sound and innovation made
advancements and brought new ideas into the
world of Jazz music, which helped him stand
apart from others, as well as succeed in his field.
Life and Family-Miles Davis was born on May 26, 1926 in East St.Louis Illinois and
lived with his father Miles, mother Cleota Mae, older sister
Dorothy Mae, and younger brother Vernon.
-His father was a dentist and his mother a music teacher and
violinist. His father introduced him to a trumpet when he was 13
years old and despite his mother’s disapproval, continued to play,
and grew into a world renowned musician on this instrument.
-Davis lived to 65 years of age, and passed away on September
28th, 1991, in Santa Monica, California.
Where He Has Lived:- Miles was born and grew up in Alton, Illinois.
- At the age of 13, in 1939, his family moved to East St.
Louis, Illinois where he lived out the rest of his
childhood.
- Davis was accepted into Juilliard for college and moved
to New York City to attend school. He loved the Jazz
scene in New York and lived most of his life here. (25
years)
- He also traveled to Paris for a small amount of time, and
loved the people and open mindedness of the city.
Education- Miles Davis was first taught by
a man named Elwood
Buchanan as a teenager.
- Then when he was 18, he left
for a very highly held and
renowned music school,
Juilliard, in Manhattan.
- However, a year later he left
school to pursue being a full
time jazz performer.
His Music Career -Miles Davis became famous as a Jazz trumpet
player when he was young, and left Juilliard to play
in Charlie Parker’s quintet for about 4 years.
-When he was still young, he signed with Columbia
Records which helped boost his rise to fame.
-He went on to release around 51 studio albums
throughout his career, and used new sounds within
his music that challenged traditional Jazz standards.
This is especially shown in his gold record, Bitches
Brew which featured a new type of sound using
electric guitar and pianos.
Later Career- Around the time of the mid 70’s, Miles took a personal break
from his booming music career due to many things including
health complications, addiction to drugs and alcohol.
- This hiatus led to a few complications in his personal life, his
work association with Columbia among other things.
- After 5 years of hiding, and 3 of not playing, it took him a little
while to regain his skills and embouchure. He finally
reemerged in May 1980, but was hospitalized the next day.
- After another month of illness, he came out with a new album
called The Man With the Horn. This was the start of the final
stretch of his career.
-Throughout his lengthy career, Miles
Davis collaborated and worked with many
musicians and bands. Some include,
-The Charlie Parker Quintet, led by Charlie
Parker, who was also his roomate.
-Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach and Tommy
Potter
-Howard Mcghee and Brick Fleagle
-Many others!!!
Collaborations- Davis was also a part of many small,
yet influential jazz groups including
his own nonet, which helped to
develop the “Cool Jazz” movement.
-This group helped put new ideas out
into the world about “Cool Jazz” and
most of it’s music went into this
direction.
Why is he famous?- Miles Davis is overall famous because of his great talent in writing and
performing jazz.
- He helped pioneer new sounds within Jazz music to influence later
generations.
- More specifically, his career was boosted from early on because of his
early start playing with other great jazz musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie
and Charlie Parker
- Whether they were well known or not, people he chose to play with were
always very talented as well, that went well with his sound, and those
people often went on to be quite famous as well
Accomplishments- Some of his most famous works are:
the collection “Birth of the Cool” in
‘56, the “Kind of Blue” album in ‘59,
and 1970’s “Bitches Brew”.
- Throughout his career, Miles Davis
was awarded 8 Grammys, and
nominated for 32 in total.
- On March 13 2006, he was inducted
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- He was signed as a young adult with
the large record company, Columbia
Records.
Super Duper Fun Facts!!:- Miles was addicted to Heroin for about 5 years
due to depression, and according to him he was
able to just quit because he was “sick of it”.
- The record Kind of Blues has been sold more
times than another Jazz album ever!
- Miles Davis had 4 children
- He recorded and played jazz trumpet music for
around 40 years!
Miles’ Children, Gregory, Cheryl, Erin and Miles IV
Legacy -Mile’s influence and his own twists on traditional Jazz music helped
shape the sound of modern Jazz music which you hear today!
- His style included playing without vibrato, which he learned from his
lessons as a teen, and using a harmon mute.
- Although Miles recognized his talent and contribution to the Jazz
world, he once said,
“I know what i’ve done for music, but don’t call me a legend.”*
*oops, we will stop here.
A Couple of His Most Famous RecordingsHis album “Kind of Blue” featuring songs So What, Freddie Freeloader, Blue in Green,
All Blues, and Flamenco Sketches.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiL0jDqjlcA
His album “Birth of the Cool” featuring songs Move, Jeru, Moon Dreams, Venus de
Milo, Budo, Deception, Godchild, Boplicity, Rocker, Israel, and Rouge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8kjOpfMBbM
Bibliography● http://www.milesdavis.com
● https://www.biography.com
● http://www.jazzhouse.org