Davis, Miles (1926–1991), musician.Born in Alton, Illinois, a dentist's son, Miles Davis began playing the trumpet professionally in his teens. In 1944 he enrolled in a New York conservatory but gravitated to Harlem's
jazz nightclubs. He soon was recording with Charlie
Parker and working with big bands. Davis began leading groups, and in 1949 his nonet recorded the
Birth of the Cool arrangements, helping to introduce the impressionistic “cool” jazz style. Slowed by heroin addiction, Davis resurfaced in 1955 with an acclaimed quintet (including John
Coltrane). It recorded
Milestones, Kind of Blue, and other albums, roaming from a classic bebop style to modal explorations. Davis also created
Porgy and Bess and
Sketches of Spain (1958–1960) with arranger Gil Evans. These albums were among the most influential in jazz history. Into the 1960s, Davis made numerous appearances and created albums and film scores. In 1968 he controversially incorporated electronic instruments and soul motifs in
In a Silent Way and
Bitches Brew. His jazz‐rock “fusion” experiments continued until 1975, when illnesses forced a retirement. In the 1980s Davis returned, blending contemporary pop trends into his performances.
Davis's tight, dynamic range; hard‐edged lyricism; and astringent trumpet timbre created one of jazz's most distinctive voices. His uncompromising “cool” persona, fired by racial pride and mistrust of the music business and the mass audience, made him a rebellious role model for African American men for four decades. Above all, Davis was the most restless and influential stylistic innovator in jazz's first century.
Bibliography
Jack Chambers , Milestones: The Music and Times of Miles Davis, 2 vols., 1983, 1985.
Miles Davis and and Quincy Troupe , Miles: The Autobiography, 1989.
Burton W. Peretti
