Episode 1: Miles Davis

Miles Davis was one of the most influential and innovative musicians of the 20th century, whose career shaped not only jazz but the entire music industry. Born in 1926 in Illinois, Davis demonstrated an exceptional talent for the trumpet as a young man. He joined the jazz scene in the 1940s, when New York was the epicenter of musical innovation.

One of the most interesting anecdotes comes from the time he was recording his legendary album Kind of Blue in 1959. During the recording, Davis was known for not explaining much to his musicians, preferring to let them simply “feel” the music. That day, everyone brought their own instrument to the studio, and Davis just started playing and invited the others to follow him. Nothing was written down, just improvisation and emotion. One of the most interesting moments was when Davis stopped recording because he felt that one of the band members was not “feeling” the music the way he wanted. The musician was Bill Evans, one of the most important pianists of the time, who later admitted that he was a bit offended because he was not good enough. However, Davis just shrugged his shoulders and said:

" No problem, just play what you feel. "

After that, Evans began to improvise on a whole new level, and it was this improvisation that brought about the sound we recognize today as iconic modal jazz.

Through collaborations with legends such as Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, he entered the world of bebop, but he didn't stop there. He was an artist who didn't want to be limited by any style, constantly exploring new directions.

Miles Davis' greatest contribution to jazz is perhaps his ability to constantly change and adapt to new times. In the early 1950s, with Birth of the Cool , he started a revolution in cool jazz, which emphasized a calmer, more introspective approach compared to fast-paced bebop. However, the real peak of his career was reached in 1959 with the already mentioned album Kind of Blue .

But Davis didn't stop there. In the early 1970s, he challenged jazz standards again, this time by fusing jazz with rock, funk, and electronic sounds. The 1970 album Bitches Brew marked the beginning of jazz fusion, a genre that combined different musical styles and opened the door to new experiments. The album caused divisions among jazz purists, but laid the foundation for new directions in music, including electronic music and hip-hop. Davis's sound became a reflection of global cultural changes, making him one of the most important artists of his time.

Miles Davis was a sonic pioneer who, with the help of his collaborators such as John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock and Tony Williams, created music that transcended the boundaries of traditional jazz.

If you want to hear more about the world of jazz and its legends, such as Miles Davis, be sure to check out Jazz de Ville.