MILES DAVIS.
Miles Davis was an American Jazz music composer as well as a band leader; he was also a jazz trumpet player. He was born in May 1926 in the Illinois state in the US, He was introduced into the industry by his dad at the age of 13, Davis embraced different musical genres in his career which made him very versatile hence remaining on top of his game. He abandoned his studies from the Juilliard school and focused on his career, he first recorded a song called the birth of cool sessions which jumpstarted the development of the cool jazz[1]. He has been plced as one of the famous jazz musician in the 20th century[2]. He earned the name the prince of darkness due to his strong personality. The bestselling jazz record of all times, he produced 48 studio albums and 36 live albums. He developed the lineup of talented musicians like Wayne and included them in his jazz band, he was the first man to appear on the cover of rolling stone magazine and won 9 Grammy awards and he died in 1991 at the age of 65 from pneumonia and respiratory fail[3].
Analysis. Miles davis s music was very unique , he majorly played the trumpet , he frequently incorporated the use of adjectives in his trumpet that was melodic, introspective, lyrical and even intimate, he perfectly used his Harmon mute very well and occasionally he would switch to flugelhorn. Listening to his music was very addictive as one wanted to listen more and more. The tone is very familiar and addictive such that once another song is played it will automatically bring the memories of the previous song. His style was very personalized and very unique from time to time. He often went beyond the expectations to ensure that everything is perfectly done[4].
The first record was the “kind of blue record” by miles Davis, this music took an opposite direction and brought the idea of cool jazz music. This formed the cornerstone for music as it brought about a tremendous and remarkable change in the jazz industry. There were few members but in the end they came out a success, this song however took the line of blues as it is said that it was borrowed from the blues. This song clearly tells us who the band members were by just singing the song. He used the piano and saxophone; he made very good use of the resources that were at his disposal to bring out the best that has ever been in the jazz industry. In the kind of blue, miles was very perfect in playing the trumpet which brought about effectiveness in the song[5]. There was also mixed use of sound which brought about alignment of all the components. Every band member had a role that miles advised them to carry on with a lot of seriousness which they did. This brought about success in many of the projects that they had pulled out. The concept used was modal plan where kind of blue was the first form of music that existed before jazz was finally born. This music album was very crucial as it formed as the basis towards the realization of cool jazz which brought a great impact and wave in the industry. This was the first thought / blue prints that triggered them towards the introduction of jazz; he used a very good method of introducing jazz in that he incorporated what people already knew towards the unknown. This was very strategic towards starting off his style as a cool jazz founder. There were different approaches towards the use of the instruments such as the piano; everything was very unique and different at the same time. This album clearly caught the hearts of many and this song was the best sold as he was the best pianist in the song, he also had a certain sound that was very unique and the harmony was used as a substitute which was of a great success[6]. They developed all the keys and sat down in agreement before starting off the band this again was the stepping stone towards the music being very unique and addictive as well as being pleasant. The sound was balanced clear and reasonable depth. There was a great quality to the sound as well as the room sound that was very clear and timely, you can hear everything that was being said[7].
To begin with is Miles work known as so what, this was played with a lot of passion ,this shook the dust off the Jazz trumpet, it was played with fire and soul, he is playing his own rather than imitating and copying what other musicians do, he is simply living his music to the maximum. In this melody, all the band individuals are expressive and with an awesome musicality. The tone is additionally exceptionally confident thus delineating a great deal of earnestness. This was a good as he explored different changes of style in jazz. He also pioneered the cool jazz style that is now widely used in the west coast jazz, this song is more lyrical and very harmonious it is very melodic since it sounds very sweet to the ears and once you begin listening to the instruments, one would want more and more of the song, the sound used here is also very interesting and influential, the trumpet was played in a tactical manner making it very interesting and addictive, the sound was also very clear and rhythmical as well as the key notes well balanced[8]. This was very addictive and the song could arouse various feelings and emotions, it is clear that this song would send a happy chill down the spine when you are listening to it[9]. The sound used in this song clearly saw the improvement that had occurred from the kind of blues album; the sounds used were so cool and very calm, on the other hand, the sound was very clear and could be well understood by anyone. This record was very passionate and a lot of emotions could be seen from them as they played the instruments, the lyrics were also well planted in the melodies[10]. Therefore all the instruments were categorically played to the benefit of all of them hence bringing about rhythm to the record. This took a wave on the jazz music and advanced the improvement of the jazz music. There is also a mood that was set throughout the song, the mood that engulfs that record was that of seriousness and jokes aside, therefore making one really feels more serious. There is a modal jazz aspect by the use of the soloist relying on their own inventions rather than copying. The aspect of simplicity is highly manifested in the record.
In summary, Miles music shook the dust on the jazz music, the kind of blue music opened new school of thoughts towards the direction of jazz music, and first he was very unique and specific, he modified all the instruments and decided to use them to bring change, besides it very clear that he helped in shaping the direction of music via the use of tones that are totally a complete take, the sound used was also very clear and of a higher quality[11]. The ‘so what’ music also led to a different direction towards the realization of the direction that the music ought to have followed. This means led to the birth of cool jazz and a modal jazz, the songs starts very quietly and mysteriously leaving one with a lot of curiosity and questions to ask before the song kicks off completely[12]. Davis is seen to be very influential and respected hence being the best innovators in the jazz music hence marked as the corner stone of the jazz music with the kind of blues album.
Bibliography
Carr, Ian. 2007. Miles Davis: the definitive biography. http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=1011543.
Chambers, Jack. 1998. Milestones: the music and times of Miles Davis. New York: Da Capo Press.
Jones, Max. 1942. Jazz music. London: Jazz Music Magazine, etc.
Koenig, Karl. 2002. Jazz in print: 1856-1929 : an anthology of selected early readings in jazz history. Hillsdale: N.Y
Peretti, Burton William. 1994. The creation of jazz: music, race, and culture in urban America. Urbana [u.a.]: University of Illinois Press.
Rollins, Sonny, Bill Cosby, Herbie Hancock, and Francis Wolff. 2012. Miles Davis: the complete illustrated history. Minneapolis, MN: Voyageur Press.
Tingen, Paul. 2001. Miles beyond: the electric explorations of Miles Davis, 1967-1991. New York: Billboard Books.
[1] Tingen, Paul. 2001. Miles beyond: the electric explorations of Miles Davis, 1967-1991. New York: Billboard Books.
[2] Peretti, Burton William. 1994. The creation of jazz: music, race, and culture in urban America. Urbana [u.a.]: University of Illinois Press.
[3] Tingen, Paul. 2001. Miles beyond: the electric explorations of Miles Davis, 1967-1991. New York: Billboard Books.
[4] Koenig, Karl. 2002. Jazz in print: 1856-1929 : an anthology of selected early readings in jazz history. Hillsdale: N.Y
[5] Chambers, Jack. 1998. Milestones: the music and times of Miles Davis. New York: Da Capo Press.
[6] Tingen, Paul. 2001. Miles beyond: the electric explorations of Miles Davis, 1967-1991. New York: Billboard Books.
[7] Jones, Max. 1942. Jazz music. London: Jazz Music Magazine, etc.
[8] Tingen, Paul. 2001. Miles beyond: the electric explorations of Miles Davis, 1967-1991. New York: Billboard Books.
[9] Koenig, Karl. 2002. Jazz in print: 1856-1929 : an anthology of selected early readings in jazz history. Hillsdale: N.Y
[10] Peretti, Burton William. 1994. The creation of jazz: music, race, and culture in urban America. Urbana [u.a.]: University of Illinois Press.
[11] Carr, Ian. 2007. Miles Davis: the definitive biography. http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=1011543
[12] Rollins, Sonny, Bill Cosby, Herbie Hancock, and Francis Wolff. 2012. Miles Davis: the complete illustrated history. Minneapolis, MN: Voyageur Press.