4/26/12
Miles Davis
Tracing the innovations of Miles in his path to Modal Jazz
A Miles Overview
• 1949 – 1950: The Birth of the Cool and Cool Jazz • 1954: Walkin’ and Hard Bop
• 1957 – 1960: Sessions with Gil Evans
• 1959: Kind of Blue and Modal Jazz
• 1963 – 1967: The 2nd Quintet and Post-bop (Free Bop)
• 1969: Bitches Brew and Jazz Fusion • 1980s: Jazz and Pop Fusion leads to Smooth Jazz
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Early Miles
Miles in the afterglow of Bebop
Early history
• 1945: Moved to New York • To study Classical music at Julliard • Dropped out to work with Parker and Dizzy • Replaced Dizzy in Parker’s band • 1949 to 1950: The Birth of the Cool sessions • Invented / pioneered Cool Jazz • 1951 to 1954: Semi-retirement • Largely over his drug abuse • Jazz press declared his career dead
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The 1st Quintet
• 1954: Triumphant return • Strong Hard Bop influence (despite Miles’ “Cool” style) • Introduced John Coltrane: tenor sax • Introduced the Harmon Mute • Huge critical success • Leapt to a major label
• Repertoire • Tin Pan Alley show tunes
Reorganization
• 1957: disbanded the quintet • Due to drug use of his sidemen
• Gil Evans collaborations • Miles Ahead, Porgy & Bess and Sketches of Spain • Miles soloing with an exotic orchestra
• Led to film scores, experiments in simplicity
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Modal Jazz
Jazz meets impressionism
Modal Jazz
• Around 1957: Miles began working with a new sound • Pioneered by George Russell in the early 50’s • Jazz impressionism • Scales and “colors” more than chords • Slow harmonic rhythm: pace of chords • Personal style emphasized…originality is key
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Kind of Blue
• 1958: Miles released Kind of Blue • The 1st Quintet adding: • “Cannonball” Adderley (1928 – 1975) • The greatest of the post-Bird alto saxophonists • Pioneer of Soul Jazz: a groove-driven branch of Hard Bop • Bill Evans (1929 – 1980) • Highly thoughtful, inventive pianist • Renowned for his free-playing 60s trio • Quartal harmonies: chords built on 4ths • A record featuring only Modal Jazz • Huge commercial and critical hit
The 2nd Quintet
• 1958 to 1963: Miles’ band rapidly changed • 1963: a band of young innovators • Tony Williams: drums • Ron Carter: bass • Herbie Hancock: piano • Wayne Shorter: tenor & soprano sax
• Created (another) new style: Post Bop (aka Free Bop) • Miles called it “Time, no changes” • Improvised form and chords, but swinging and melodic
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