Matt

=Miles Davis=

Born in Alton, Illinois on May 26, 1926 Miles grew up in East St. Louis IL in a middle class home. After High school, eager, Miles moved to New York to attend Juliard for classical trumpet. What Miles was really going to New York for was to pursue a courier in Jazz, playing with his idols, the great alto saxophonist Charlie Parker and trumpetear Dizzy Gillespie.

After dropping out of Julliard Miles found himself playing around with Charlie Parker and his band. While in the band Miles picked up a heroin addiction from Parker and continued to play in his group until the early 50's when he (Miles) decided to form his first quintet featuring the great tenor saxophonist John Coltrane. As the mid 50’s approached Miles recovered from his heroin addiction and recorded Kind Of Blue with his new quintet featuring Bill Evans, Cannonbal Adderley, Paul Chambers, and Jimmy Cobb.

In the 60s Davis put together a second quintet exposing the likes of the most talented young up and comers in Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams, and Ron Carter. The music of this group was more complex combining group improvisation and open free jazz form. The critics applauded and the other musicians of the time were thankful for the gift of a fresh sound and new way in which to approach jazz. Through this period between the middle 40's to the middle 60's it is important to track the creative mind and moves Miles Davis made in order to become one of the most influential musicians in history. His work inspired other musicians, painters, and the people of this age to reinvent what had already been doon before them. Sure Miles could've taken what gillespie had done and did it the same or maybe a little bit better, but where would that really have gotten us?

“I'm always thinking about creating. My future starts when I wake up every morning. . . Every day I find something creative to do with my life.”

“Don't play what's there, play what's not there.”

"Do not fear mistakes. There are none."

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