Misplaced Pages

#962037

98-916: The first festival was scheduled to be held April 7–8 at the Greek Theater on the Berkeley campus of the University of California, but due to heavy rain it was moved indoors into Harmon Gym. Friday evening saw sets by Miles Davis , the Modern Jazz Quartet , and the Gerald Wilson Big Band . On Saturday, the Bill Evans Trio, the Horace Silver Quintet, the John Handy Concert Ensemble, and Big Mama Thornton performed. The festival

196-588: A Friend (1972), Enlightenment (1973), and Fly with the Wind (1976), which included flautist Hubert Laws , drummer Billy Cobham , and a string orchestra. His music for Blue Note and Milestone often used the music of the Coltrane quartet as a starting point. Tyner also incorporated African and East Asian elements in his music. On Sahara , he played koto in addition to piano, flute, and percussion. These albums have been cited as examples of innovative 1970s jazz that

294-716: A Marin County Psychiatrist who had recently done a record for Columbia joined Taylor and Monk at the afternoon workshop. Jamie Bennett was the Chair of UPB and the Director of the Festival. Held in April–May, 1969, with Cannonball Adderley Quintet, Sonny Rollins , Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln , Nina Simone , Herbie Hancock Sextet, Tony Williams , Zutty Singleton, Roy Haynes , Albert King , Archie Shepp , and King Errison. Martha and

392-484: A Silent Way and concluding with the 1975 concert recording Agharta , was the most controversial in his career, alienating and challenging many in jazz. His million-selling 1970 record Bitches Brew helped spark a resurgence in the genre's commercial popularity with jazz fusion as the decade progressed. After a five-year retirement due to poor health, Davis resumed his career in the 1980s, employing younger musicians and pop sounds on albums such as The Man with

490-583: A band that performed at the Elks Club. Part of his earnings paid for his sister's education at Fisk University . Davis befriended trumpeter Clark Terry , who suggested he play without vibrato, and performed with him for several years. With encouragement from his teacher and girlfriend, Davis filled a vacant spot in the Rhumboogie Orchestra , also known as the Blue Devils, led by Eddie Randle. He became

588-615: A brief period with Roach and Mingus in September 1953, he returned to his father's home, where he concentrated on addressing his addiction. Davis lived in Detroit for about six months, avoiding New York City, where it was easy to get drugs. Though he used heroin, he was still able to perform locally with Elvin Jones and Tommy Flanagan as part of Billy Mitchell 's house band at the Blue Bird club. He

686-539: A collaboration with bassist Charles Mingus that summer. Cawthon gave birth to Davis's second child, Gregory, in East St. Louis before reuniting with Davis in New York City the following year. Davis noted that by this time, "I was still so much into the music that I was even ignoring Irene." He had also turned to alcohol and cocaine. Davis was a member of Billy Eckstine's big band in 1946 and Gillespie's in 1947. He joined

784-528: A gift from John Eubanks, a friend of his father. He then took weekly lessons from "the biggest influence on my life," Elwood Buchanan , a teacher and musician who was a patient of his father. His mother wanted him to play the violin instead. Against the fashion of the time, Buchanan stressed the importance of playing without vibrato and encouraged him to use a clear, mid-range tone. Davis said that whenever he started playing with heavy vibrato, Buchanan slapped his knuckles. In later years Davis said, "I prefer

882-650: A guest soloist. Davis accepted and worked with Gil Evans in what became a five-album collaboration from 1957 to 1962. Miles Ahead (1957) showcased Davis on flugelhorn and a rendition of "The Maids of Cadiz" by Léo Delibes , the first piece of classical music that Davis recorded. Evans devised orchestral passages as transitions, thus turning the album into one long piece of music. Porgy and Bess (1959) includes arrangements of pieces from George Gershwin's opera . Sketches of Spain (1960) contained music by Joaquín Rodrigo and Manuel de Falla and originals by Evans. The classical musicians had trouble improvising, while

980-418: A leader. These included Reaching Fourth (1963), Today and Tomorrow (1964), and McCoy Tyner Plays Ellington (1965). In a 2017 review, Marc Myers of JazzWax said "...the finest of these straightforward piano recordings was Nights of Ballads & Blues . Tyner's playing is exciting and exceptional on all of the tracks... On the album, he exhibits a reserved elegance and tenderness that reveals

1078-507: A low bass left hand and raised his arm high above the keyboard for an emphatic attack. His right-hand soloing was detached and staccato . His melodic vocabulary was rich, ranging from raw blues to complex superimposed pentatonic scales ; his approach to chord voicing (most characteristically by fourths) influenced contemporary jazz pianists, such as Chick Corea . Some of his harmonic modal techniques have been connected to Claude Debussy 's piano repertory. Bob Weir , rhythm guitarist for

SECTION 10

#1732875826963

1176-403: A musical director at a record label. Avakian agreed that it was time for Davis to explore something different, but Davis rejected his suggestion of returning to his nonet as he considered that a step backward. Avakian then suggested that he work with a bigger ensemble, similar to Music for Brass (1957), an album of orchestral and brass-arranged music led by Gunther Schuller featuring Davis as

1274-442: A new group. Following auditions, he found his new band in tenor saxophonist George Coleman , bassist Ron Carter , pianist Victor Feldman , and drummer Frank Butler . By May 1963, Feldman and Butler were replaced by 23-year-old pianist Herbie Hancock and 17-year-old drummer Tony Williams who made Davis "excited all over again". With this group, Davis completed the rest of what became Seven Steps to Heaven (1963) and recorded

1372-492: A new trumpet, and Davis began to play in local bands. He took additional trumpet lessons from Joseph Gustat, principal trumpeter of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra . Davis would also play the trumpet in talent shows he and his siblings would put on. In 1941, the 15-year-old attended East St. Louis Lincoln High School , where he joined the marching band directed by Buchanan and entered music competitions. Years later, Davis said that he

1470-443: A one-year contract with Prestige after owner Bob Weinstock became a fan of the nonet. Davis chose Lewis, trombonist Bennie Green , bassist Percy Heath , saxophonist Sonny Rollins , and drummer Roy Haynes ; they recorded what became part of Miles Davis and Horns (1956). Davis was hired for other studio dates in 1951 and began to transcribe scores for record labels to fund his heroin addiction. His second session for Prestige

1568-417: A photograph of his wife, Frances Taylor , after Davis demanded that Columbia depict black women on his album covers. In December 1962, Davis, Kelly, Chambers, Cobb, and Rollins played together for the last time as the first three wanted to leave and play as a trio. Rollins left them soon after, leaving Davis to pay over $ 25,000 (equivalent to $ 251,800 in 2023 ) to cancel upcoming gigs and quickly assemble

1666-422: A profitable pig farm. In Pine Bluff, he and his siblings fished, hunted, and rode horses. Davis's grandparents were the owners of an Arkansas farm where he would spend many summers. In 1927, the family moved to East St. Louis, Illinois . They lived on the second floor of a commercial building behind a dental office in a predominantly white neighborhood. Davis's father would soon become distant to his children as

1764-763: A quintet led by Parker that also included Max Roach. Together they performed live with Duke Jordan and Tommy Potter for much of the year, including several studio sessions. In one session that May, Davis wrote the tune "Cheryl", for his daughter. Davis's first session as a leader followed in August 1947, playing as the Miles Davis All Stars that included Parker, pianist John Lewis , and bassist Nelson Boyd ; they recorded "Milestones", "Half Nelson", and "Sippin' at Bells". After touring Chicago and Detroit with Parker's quintet, Davis returned to New York City in March 1948 and joined

1862-499: A replacement if Tyner was not available; between the time Tyner joined the group (around the end of May 1960) and left (December 1965), there was no other pianist accompanying Coltrane. Tyner's involvement with Coltrane ended in 1965. Coltrane's music was becoming much more atonal and free; he had also augmented his quartet with percussion players who threatened to drown out both Tyner and Jones. Tyner commented: "I didn't see myself making any contribution to that music... All I could hear

1960-580: A roommate. Around this time Davis was paid an allowance of $ 40 (equivalent to $ 690 in 2023 ). In mid-1945, Davis failed to register for the year's autumn term at Juilliard and dropped out after three semesters because he wanted to perform full-time. Years later he criticized Juilliard for concentrating too much on classical European and "white" repertoire, but he praised the school for teaching him music theory and improving his trumpet technique. Davis began performing at clubs on 52nd Street with Coleman Hawkins and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis . He recorded for

2058-408: A round sound with no attitude in it, like a round voice with not too much tremolo and not too much bass. Just right in the middle. If I can't get that sound I can't play anything." The family soon moved to 1701 Kansas Avenue in East St. Louis. In his autobiography, Davis stated, "By the age of 12, music had become the most important thing in my life." On his thirteenth birthday his father bought him

SECTION 20

#1732875826963

2156-556: A series of more abstract recordings often composed by the band members, helping pioneer the post-bop genre with albums such as E.S.P. (1965) and Miles Smiles (1967), before transitioning into his electric period. During the 1970s, he experimented with rock, funk, African rhythms , emerging electronic music technology , and an ever-changing lineup of musicians, including keyboardist Joe Zawinul , drummer Al Foster , bassist Michael Henderson , and guitarist John McLaughlin . This period, beginning with Davis's 1969 studio album In

2254-549: A strong liking to Paris and its cultural environment, where he felt black jazz musicians and people of color in general were better respected than in the U.S. The trip, he said, "changed the way I looked at things forever". He began an affair with singer and actress Juliette Gréco . After returning from Paris in mid-1949, he became depressed and found little work except a short engagement with Powell in October and guest spots in New York City, Chicago, and Detroit until January 1950. He

2352-547: A studio recording together, and became known as Davis's "lost quintet", though radio broadcasts from the band's European tour have been extensively bootlegged. For the double album Bitches Brew (1970), he hired Jack DeJohnette , Harvey Brooks , and Bennie Maupin . The album contained long compositions, some over twenty minutes, that more often than not, were constructed from several takes by Macero and Davis via splicing and tape loops amid epochal advances in multitrack recording technologies. Bitches Brew peaked at No. 35 on

2450-450: A tired Evans left. Wynton Kelly , his replacement, brought to the group a swinging style that contrasted with Evans's delicacy. The sextet made their recording debut on Jazz Track (1958). By early 1957, Davis was exhausted from recording and touring and wished to pursue new projects. In March, the 30-year-old Davis told journalists of his intention to retire soon and revealed offers he had received to teach at Harvard University and be

2548-512: A vegetarian diet, and spoke of the benefits of water and juice. In December 1948, Davis quit, saying he was not being paid. His departure began a period when he worked mainly as a freelancer and sideman. His nonet remained active until the end of 1949. After signing a contract with Capitol Records , they recorded sessions in January and April 1949, which sold little but influenced the "cool" or "west coast" style of jazz. The lineup changed throughout

2646-455: A written score and instead improvised while they watched the film in a recording studio. After returning to New York, Davis revived his quintet with Adderley and Coltrane, who was clean from his drug habit. Now a sextet, the group recorded material in early 1958 that was released on Milestones , an album that demonstrated Davis's interest in modal jazz . A performance by Les Ballets Africains drew him to slower, deliberate music that allowed

2744-639: Is comparable to Coltrane's maximalist style on saxophone. Writing in 2019, Sami Linna at the University of the Arts Helsinki noted that Coltrane described the two different directions in his playing as: "playing chordally (vertically) or melodically (horizontally)". Linna suggests: "Tyner would eventually find a way of dealing with the two directions simultaneously, in a manner that was supportive and complementary yet original and slightly different from Coltrane's approach." After 1960, Coltrane did not hire anyone as

2842-504: Is one of the most recognizable and influential jazz pianists of all time. Tyner was born December 11, 1938 in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania, the eldest of Jarvis and Beatrice (née Stevenson) Tyner's three children. Tyner was encouraged to study piano by his mother, who had installed a piano at her beauty salon. When he was 13, Tyner began piano lessons at Granoff School of Music , where he also studied music theory and harmony . By

2940-608: The Billboard Album chart. In 1976, it was certified gold for selling over 500,000 records. By 2003, it had sold one million copies. McCoy Tyner Alfred McCoy Tyner (December 11, 1938 – March 6, 2020) was an American jazz pianist and composer known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet from 1960 to 1965, and his long solo career afterwards. He was an NEA Jazz Master and five-time Grammy Award winner. Tyner has been widely imitated, and

3038-639: The Grateful Dead , has listed Tyner as an influence on his playing. Tyner was named a 2002 NEA Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts . He won five Grammy Awards : for The Turning Point (1992) and Journey (1993) and best instrumental jazz album for Illuminations (2004), Infinity (1995), and Blues for Coltrane: A Tribute to John Coltrane (1987). Tyner was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music at

Berkeley Jazz Festival - Misplaced Pages Continue

3136-722: The Jazz at the Philharmonic tour, which included a stop in St. Louis on April 30. In August 1948, Davis declined an offer to join Duke Ellington 's orchestra as he had entered rehearsals with a nine-piece band featuring baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan and arrangements by Gil Evans , taking an active role on what soon became his own project. Evans' Manhattan apartment had become the meeting place for several young musicians and composers such as Davis, Roach, Lewis, and Mulligan who were unhappy with

3234-465: The 1966 Newport Jazz Festival, he returned to the studio with his quintet for a series of sessions. He started a relationship with actress Cicely Tyson , who helped him reduce his alcohol consumption. Material from the 1966–1968 sessions was released on Miles Smiles (1966), Sorcerer (1967), Nefertiti (1967), Miles in the Sky (1968), and Filles de Kilimanjaro (1968). The quintet's approach to

3332-571: The Birdland All-Stars, which included the Modern Jazz Quartet and French and German musicians. In Paris, he reunited with Gréco and they "were lovers for many years". He then returned home, reunited his quintet and toured the US for two months. Conflict arose on tour when he grew impatient with the drug habits of Jones and Coltrane. Davis was trying to live a healthier life by exercising and reducing his use of alcohol. But he continued to use cocaine. At

3430-552: The Blue Note label, beginning with Revelations (1988) and culminating in Soliloquy (1991). After signing with Telarc , he recorded with several other trios. These included Charnett Moffett on bass and Al Foster on drums. In 2008, he toured with a quartet of Gary Bartz , Gerald L. Cannon , and Eric Gravatt . Tyner married Aisha Saud; they had three sons. The marriage ended in divorce. Tyner's younger brother Jarvis Tyner

3528-511: The Great Depression caused him to become increasingly consumed by his job; typically working six days a week. From 1932 to 1934, Davis attended John Robinson Elementary School, an all-black school, then Crispus Attucks, where he performed well in mathematics, music, and sports. Davis had previously attended Catholic school. At an early age he liked music, especially blues, big bands, and gospel. In 1935, Davis received his first trumpet as

3626-449: The Horn (1981), You're Under Arrest (1985) and Tutu (1986). Critics were often unreceptive but the decade garnered Davis his highest level of commercial recognition. He performed sold-out concerts worldwide, while branching out into visual arts, film, and television work, before his death in 1991 from the combined effects of a stroke, pneumonia and respiratory failure . In 2006, Davis

3724-591: The Jazz Gallery, replacing Steve Kuhn . Coltrane had known Tyner for a while growing up in Philadelphia, and recorded Tyner's composition "The Believer" on January 10, 1958, which later became the title track of Prestige Records' 1964 issued album under Coltrane’s name. The band toured almost non-stop between 1961 and 1965, recording many albums widely considered jazz classics including My Favorite Things (1961) for Atlantic Records and Coltrane "Live" at

3822-694: The Jazz Machine - Benny Carter Jazz All Stars (with George Bohanon , Snooky Young , Llew Matthews , Richard Reid, Paul Humphrey ) - Mark Murphy Saturday, May 29 : McCoy Tyner and Friends with guest vocalist Phyllis Hyman - Freddie Hubbard All Stars featuring Bobby Hutcherson and Joe Henderson - Ray Barretto Orchestra with guest soloist Dizzy Gillespie - Full Faith & Credit Big Band Sunday, May 30 : Jean-Luc Ponty - Max Roach Quartet - Flora Purim & Airto with Joe Farrell - Free Flight August 29–31. Rachelle Ferrell , Lalah Hathaway , Unwrapped All-Stars , Ray Obiedo &

3920-700: The Miles Davis Quintet (1961). Each album was critically acclaimed and helped establish Davis's quintet as one of the best. The style of the group was an extension of their experience playing with Davis. He played long, legato, melodic lines, while Coltrane contrasted with energetic solos. Their live repertoire was a mix of bebop, standards from the Great American Songbook and pre-bop eras, and traditional tunes. They appeared on 'Round About Midnight , Davis's first album for Columbia. In 1956, he left his quintet temporarily to tour Europe as part of

4018-527: The Modern Jazz Giants (1959) documented the evolution of his sound with the Harmon mute placed close to the microphone, and the use of more spacious and relaxed phrasing. He assumed a central role in hard bop , less radical in harmony and melody, and used popular songs and American standards as starting points for improvisation. Hard bop distanced itself from cool jazz with a harder beat and music inspired by

Berkeley Jazz Festival - Misplaced Pages Continue

4116-571: The US House of Representatives passed a resolution that honored it as a national treasure. In August 1959, during a break in a recording session at the Birdland nightclub in New York City, Davis was escorting a blonde-haired woman to a taxi outside the club when policeman Gerald Kilduff told him to "move on". Davis said that he was working at the club, and he refused to move. Kilduff arrested and grabbed Davis as he tried to protect himself. Witnesses said

4214-1054: The Urban Latin Jazz Project, Mimi Fox , Bobby Caldwell , Boney James , and Kem . Performers included Chaka Khan , Will Downing , George Duke & Stanley Clarke , Norman Brown , Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band, and Pieces of a Dream A line-up featuring Rachelle Ferrell , Arlington Houston , Joe Sample & Randy Crawford , Brian Culbertson , Najee , the Superstars of Jazz Fusion starring Roy Ayers , Jean Carne , Lonnie Liston Smith , Jon Lucien and Wayne Henderson . Kenny G , Will Downing , Brian Culbertson , The Escovedo Family featuring: Pete Escovedo , Sheila E. plus Juan and Peter Michael Escovedo Maysa Leak 37°52′25″N 122°15′15″W  /  37.87361°N 122.25417°W  / 37.87361; -122.25417 Miles Davis Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991)

4312-775: The Vandellas canceled due to illness and were replaced by the Ed Hawkins Singers . Saxophonist Prince Lasha , leading an eight-piece group which included pianist Herbie Hancock and bassist Ron Carter , played a set three songs of which were released by ENJA Records. Stanley Turrentine - Grover Washington, Jr. - Donald Byrd and the Blackbyrds - Taj Mahal (musician) - Joe Bataan - Freddie Hubbard - Gil Scott-Heron - Les McCann - Eddie Harris Cannonball Adderley and Nat Adderley Friday May 28: Charles Mingus Quintet with Nat Adderley - Rahsaan Roland Kirk and

4410-2030: The Vibration Society - George Benson Saturday, May 29: Weather Report - Hubert Laws featuring Patrice Rushen - Lonnie Liston Smith and the Cosmic Echoes Sunday, May 30: McCoy Tyner - Ramsey Lewis - Betty Carter - Ronnie Laws and Pressure Friday May 27: McCoy Tyner / Tony Williams / Ron Carter - Elvin Jones with Ryo Kawasaki - Jean Carn - Bill Summers & Julian Priestley Summers Heat Saturday, May 28: Grover Washington, Jr. - Dexter Gordon with Woody Shaw & Louis Hayes - Al Jarreau - Pyramids Sunday, May 29: Ella Fitzgerald - Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big Band - Billy Harper - Bishop Norman Williams - Elements Precise George Duke appeared as well. (Dedicated to Rahsaan Roland Kirk, 1936–1977) Saturday May 20 - Bay Area Jazz Band Day: Ridd'm - Sadaka - Gregory James Quartet - Listen with Mel Martin Saturday, May 27: Airto Moreira & Flora Purim - Ramsey Lewis - Freddie Hubbard - Hubert Laws - Michael Franks Sunday, May 28: Night Flyte - Noel Pointer - Oscar Peterson / Ray Brown / Louis Bellson - Herbie Hancock / Ron Carter / Tony Williams - Eddie Jefferson featuring George Cables & Richie Cole Friday May 25: Al Jarreau - John Klemmer - Betty Carter - Tony Williams Band Saturday, May 26: Weather Report - Sonny Rollins - Pat Metheny - Art Lande & Rubisa Patrol Sunday, May 27: A Special Tribute to Charles Mingus: Joni Mitchell , Jaco Pastorius , Don Alias , Herbie Hancock and Tony Williams - Dizzy Gillespie - Eddie Jefferson with Richie Cole John McLaughlin , Sheila Escovedo , Tom Browne , The Manhattan Transfer and Christian Escoudé Friday, May 28 : Elvin Jones &

4508-502: The Village Vanguard (1962), Ballads (1963), John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman (1963), Live at Birdland (1964), Crescent (1964), A Love Supreme (1964), and The John Coltrane Quartet Plays (1965), for Impulse! Records . While in Coltrane's group, Tyner recorded albums in a piano trio. In late 1962 and the first half of 1963, Tyner was asked by producer Bob Thiele to record more straightforward jazz albums as

4606-534: The band completed their sole engagement as the opening band for Count Basie at the Royal Roost for two weeks. Davis had to persuade the venue's manager to write the sign "Miles Davis Nonet. Arrangements by Gil Evans, John Lewis and Gerry Mulligan". Davis returned to Parker's quintet, but relationships within the quintet were growing tense mainly due to Parker's erratic behavior caused by his drug addiction. Early in his time with Parker, Davis abstained from drugs, chose

4704-528: The band either." In January 1944, Davis finished high school and graduated in absentia in June. During the next month, his girlfriend gave birth to a daughter, Cheryl. In July 1944, Billy Eckstine visited St. Louis with a band that included Art Blakey , Dizzy Gillespie , and Charlie Parker . Trumpeter Buddy Anderson was too sick to perform, so Davis was invited to join. He played with the band for two weeks at Club Riviera . After playing with these musicians, he

4802-467: The band's musical director, which involved hiring musicians and scheduling rehearsal. Years later, Davis considered this job one of the most important of his career. Sonny Stitt tried to persuade him to join the Tiny Bradshaw band, which was passing through town, but his mother insisted he finish high school before going on tour. He said later, "I didn't talk to her for two weeks. And I didn't go with

4900-488: The blues. A few critics consider Walkin' (April 1954) the album that created the hard bop genre. Davis gained a reputation for being cold, distant, and easily angered. He wrote that in 1954 Sugar Ray Robinson "was the most important thing in my life besides music", and he adopted Robinson's "arrogant attitude". He showed contempt for critics and the press. Davis had an operation to remove polyps from his larynx in October 1955. The doctors told him to remain silent after

4998-456: The creation of solos from harmony rather than chords. By May 1958, he had replaced Jones with drummer Jimmy Cobb , and Garland left the group, leaving Davis to play piano on "Sid's Ahead" for Milestones . He wanted someone who could play modal jazz, so he hired Bill Evans , a young pianist with a background in classical music. Evans had an impressionistic approach to piano. His ideas greatly influenced Davis. But after eight months of touring,

SECTION 50

#1732875826963

5096-474: The earliest hard bop music while on Prestige Records but did so despite a heroin addiction. After a widely acclaimed comeback performance at the Newport Jazz Festival , he signed a long-term contract with Columbia Records , and recorded the album 'Round About Midnight in 1955. It was his first work with saxophonist John Coltrane and bassist Paul Chambers , key members of the sextet he led into

5194-813: The early 1960s. During this period, he alternated between orchestral jazz collaborations with arranger Gil Evans , such as the Spanish music -influenced Sketches of Spain (1960), and band recordings, such as Milestones (1958) and Kind of Blue (1959). The latter recording remains one of the most popular jazz albums of all time, having sold over five million copies in the U.S. Davis made several lineup changes while recording Someday My Prince Will Come (1961), his 1961 Blackhawk concerts , and Seven Steps to Heaven (1963), another commercial success that introduced bassist Ron Carter , pianist Herbie Hancock , and drummer Tony Williams . After adding saxophonist Wayne Shorter to his new quintet in 1964, Davis led them on

5292-410: The end of the tour, he fired Jones and Coltrane and replaced them with Sonny Rollins and Art Taylor . In November 1957, Davis went to Paris and recorded the soundtrack to Ascenseur pour l'échafaud . directed by Louis Malle and starring Jeanne Moreau . Consisting of French jazz musicians Barney Wilen , Pierre Michelot , and René Urtreger , and American drummer Kenny Clarke , the group avoided

5390-630: The first time on April 24, 1945, when he entered the studio as a sideman for Herbie Fields 's band. During the next year, he recorded as a leader for the first time with the Miles Davis Sextet plus Earl Coleman and Ann Baker, one of the few times he accompanied a singer. In 1945, Davis replaced Dizzy Gillespie in Charlie Parker's quintet. On November 26, he participated in several recording sessions as part of Parker's group Reboppers that also involved Gillespie and Max Roach , displaying hints of

5488-590: The hands of one his friends, jazz singer Betty Carter . He toured with Eckstine and Billie Holiday and was arrested for heroin possession in Los Angeles. The story was reported in DownBeat magazine, which led to a further reduction in work, though he was acquitted weeks later. By the 1950s, Davis had become more skilled and was experimenting with the middle register of the trumpet alongside harmonies and rhythms. In January 1951, Davis's fortunes improved when he signed

5586-443: The hospital with a liver infection. When he resumed touring, he performed more at colleges because he had grown tired of the typical jazz venues. Columbia president Clive Davis reported in 1966 his sales had declined to around 40,000–50,000 per album, compared to as many as 100,000 per release a few years before. Matters were not helped by the press reporting his apparent financial troubles and imminent demise. After his appearance at

5684-552: The hospital, he discharged himself due to boredom and went home. He returned to the hospital in August after a fall required the insertion of a plastic hip joint. In November 1965, he had recovered enough to return to performing with his quintet, which included gigs at the Plugged Nickel in Chicago. Teo Macero returned as his record producer after their rift over Quiet Nights had healed. In January 1966, Davis spent three months in

5782-496: The incident "changed my whole life and whole attitude again, made me feel bitter and cynical again when I was starting to feel good about the things that had changed in this country". Davis and his sextet toured to support Kind of Blue . He persuaded Coltrane to play with the group on one final European tour in the spring of 1960. Coltrane then departed to form his quartet, though he returned for some tracks on Davis's album Someday My Prince Will Come (1961). Its front cover shows

5880-479: The increasingly virtuoso instrumental techniques that dominated bebop. These gatherings led to the formation of the Miles Davis Nonet , which included atypical modern jazz instruments such as French horn and tuba, leading to a thickly textured, almost orchestral sound. The intent was to imitate the human voice through carefully arranged compositions and a relaxed, melodic approach to improvisation. In September,

5978-465: The jazz musicians couldn't handle the difficult arrangements, but the album was a critical success, selling over 120,000 copies in the US. Davis performed with an orchestra conducted by Evans at Carnegie Hall in May 1961 to raise money for charity. The pair's final album was Quiet Nights (1963), a collection of bossa nova songs released against their wishes. Evans stated it was only half an album and blamed

SECTION 60

#1732875826963

6076-641: The label. Davis had one year left on his contract with Prestige, which required him to release four more albums. He signed a contract with Columbia that included a $ 4,000 advance (equivalent to $ 45,500 in 2023 ) and required that his recordings for Columbia remain unreleased until his agreement with Prestige expired. At the request of Avakian, he formed the Miles Davis Quintet for a performance at Café Bohemia . The quintet contained Sonny Rollins on tenor saxophone, Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on double bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. Rollins

6174-548: The live albums Miles Davis in Europe (1964), My Funny Valentine (1965), and Four & More (1966). The quintet played essentially the same bebop tunes and standards that Davis's previous bands had played, but they approached them with structural and rhythmic freedom and occasionally breakneck speed. In 1964, Coleman was briefly replaced by saxophonist Sam Rivers (who recorded with Davis on Miles in Tokyo ) until Wayne Shorter

6272-414: The music had been planned around Evans's piano style. Both Davis and Evans were familiar with George Russell 's ideas about modal jazz. But Davis neglected to tell pianist Wynton Kelly that Evans was returning, so Kelly appeared on only one song, " Freddie Freeloader ". The sextet had played " So What " and " All Blues " at performances, but the remaining three compositions they saw for the first time in

6370-448: The new music became known as "time no changes"—which referred to Davis's decision to depart from chordal sequences and adopt a more open approach, with the rhythm section responding to the soloists' melodies. Through Nefertiti the studio recordings consisted primarily of originals composed by Shorter, with occasional compositions by the other sidemen. In 1967, the group began to play their concerts in continuous sets, each tune flowing into

6468-407: The next, with only the melody indicating any sort of change. His bands performed this way until his hiatus in 1975. Miles in the Sky and Filles de Kilimanjaro —which tentatively introduced electric bass, electric piano, and electric guitar on some tracks—pointed the way to the fusion phase of Davis's career. He also began experimenting with more rock-oriented rhythms on these records. By the time

6566-451: The operation, but he got into an argument that permanently damaged his vocal cords and gave him a raspy voice for the rest of his life. He was called the "prince of darkness", adding a patina of mystery to his public persona. In July 1955, Davis's fortunes improved considerably when he played at the Newport Jazz Festival , with a lineup of Monk, Heath, drummer Connie Kay , and horn players Zoot Sims and Gerry Mulligan . The performance

6664-538: The other side of his personality—a lover of melody and standards. In this regard, there are traces of Oscar Peterson in his playing. Perhaps Thiele was using Tyner to take a bite out of Peterson's vast and successful early-'60s share of the jazz market." Tyner also appeared as a sideman on many Blue Note Records albums of the 1960s, although he was often credited as "etc." on the cover of these albums to respect his contract with Impulse!. Tyner's playing style developed in close contact with Coltrane. His style of piano

6762-404: The policeman hit Davis in the stomach with a nightstick without provocation. Two detectives held the crowd back, while a third approached Davis from behind and beat him over the head. Davis was taken to jail, charged with assaulting an officer, then taken to the hospital where he received five stitches. By January 1960, he was acquitted of disorderly conduct and third-degree assault. He later stated

6860-500: The record company; Davis blamed producer Teo Macero and refused to speak to him for more than two years. The boxed set Miles Davis & Gil Evans: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings (1996) won the Grammy Award for Best Historical Album and Best Album Notes in 1997. In March and April 1959, Davis recorded what some consider his greatest album, Kind of Blue . He named the album for its mood. He called back Bill Evans, as

6958-565: The second half of Filles de Kilimanjaro was recorded, bassist Dave Holland and pianist Chick Corea had replaced Carter and Hancock. Davis soon took over the compositional duties of his sidemen. In a Silent Way was recorded in a single studio session in February 1969, with Shorter, Hancock, Holland, and Williams alongside keyboardists Chick Corea and Joe Zawinul and guitarist John McLaughlin . The album contains two side-long tracks that Macero pieced together from different takes recorded at

7056-472: The session. When the album was released later that year, some critics accused him of "selling out" to the rock and roll audience. Nevertheless, it reached number 134 on the US Billboard Top LPs chart, his first album since My Funny Valentine to reach the chart. In a Silent Way was his entry into jazz fusion. The touring band of 1969–1970—with Shorter, Corea, Holland, and DeJohnette—never completed

7154-488: The studio. Released in August 1959, Kind of Blue was an instant success, with widespread radio airplay and rave reviews from critics. It has remained a strong seller over the years. In 2019, the album achieved 5× platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of over five million copies in the US, making it one of the most successful jazz albums in history. In 2009,

7252-552: The style he would become known for. On Parker's tune " Now's the Time ", Davis played a solo that anticipated cool jazz . He next joined a big band led by Benny Carter , performing in St. Louis and remaining with the band in California. He again played with Parker and Gillespie. In Los Angeles, Parker had a nervous breakdown that put him in the hospital for several months. In March 1946, Davis played in studio sessions with Parker and began

7350-504: The time he was 15, music had become the focal point of his life. Tyner's decision to study piano was reinforced when he encountered bebop pianist Bud Powell , a neighbor of the Tyner family. Another major influence on Tyner's playing was Thelonious Monk , whose percussive attacks would inform Tyner's signature style. During his teens, Tyner led his own group, the Houserockers. When he

7448-619: The time, yet Davis rebuffed their criticisms. Recording sessions with the nonet for Capitol continued until April 1950. The Nonet recorded a dozen tracks which were released as singles and subsequently compiled on the 1957 album Birth of the Cool . In May 1949, Davis performed with the Tadd Dameron Quintet with Kenny Clarke and James Moody at the Paris International Jazz Festival . On his first trip abroad Davis took

7546-449: The trumpet in his early teens. He left to study at Juilliard in New York City, before dropping out and making his professional debut as a member of saxophonist Charlie Parker 's bebop quintet from 1944 to 1948. Shortly after, he recorded the Birth of the Cool sessions for Capitol Records , which were instrumental to the development of cool jazz . In the early 1950s, Davis recorded some of

7644-426: The year and included tuba player Bill Barber , alto saxophonist Lee Konitz , pianist Al Haig , trombone players Mike Zwerin with Kai Winding , French horn players Junior Collins with Sandy Siegelstein and Gunther Schuller , and bassists Al McKibbon and Joe Shulman . One track featured singer Kenny Hagood . The presence of white musicians in the group angered some black players, many of whom were unemployed at

7742-471: Was 17, Tyner converted to Ahmadiyya and changed his name to Suleiman Saud. Tyner played professionally in Philadelphia , becoming part of its modern jazz scene. In 1960, he joined The Jazztet led by Benny Golson and Art Farmer . Six months later, he joined the John Coltrane quartet, which included drummer Elvin Jones and bassist Steven Davis . He worked with the band during its extended run at

7840-445: Was Davis' last one with that group. Lalo Schifrin lectured on jazz music on April 20. Guitarist Wes Montgomery appeared with his two brothers: Monk on piano and Buddy on electric bass. Pianist Thelonious Monk gave a concert and conducted a workshop which was delayed until six small space heaters could be located and brought to the stage, as his hands were cold. At first he performed wearing gloves with cut-out fingers.Denny Zeitlin,

7938-519: Was a lot of noise. I didn't have any feeling for the music, and when I don't have feelings, I don't play". In 1966, Tyner rehearsed with a new trio and embarked on a career as a bandleader. Tyner produced a series of post-bop albums released by Blue Note between 1967 and 1970. These included The Real McCoy (1967), Tender Moments (1967), Time for Tyner (1968), Expansions (1968) and Extensions (1970). He signed with Milestone Records and recorded such albums as Sahara and Echoes of

8036-543: Was also "pimping a little". However, he was able to end his addiction, and, in February 1954, Davis returned to New York City, feeling good "for the first time in a long time", mentally and physically stronger, and joined a gym. He informed Weinstock and Blue Note that he was ready to record with a quintet, which he was granted. He considered the albums that resulted from these and earlier sessions – Miles Davis Quartet and Miles Davis Volume 2 – "very important" because he felt his performances were particularly strong. He

8134-528: Was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music . Davis adopted a variety of musical directions in a roughly five-decade career that kept him at the forefront of many major stylistic developments in jazz. Born into an upper-middle-class family in Alton, Illinois , and raised in East St. Louis , Davis started on

8232-457: Was born on May 26, 1926, to an affluent African-American family in Alton , Illinois, 15 miles (24 kilometres) north of St. Louis . He had an older sister, Dorothy Mae (1925–1996) and a younger brother, Vernon (1929–1999). His mother, Cleota Mae Henry of Arkansas , was a music teacher and violinist, and his father, Miles Dewey Davis Jr. , also of Arkansas, was a dentist. They owned a 200-acre (81 ha) estate near Pine Bluff , Arkansas, with

8330-511: Was certain he should move to New York City, "where the action was". His mother wanted him to go to Fisk University, like his sister, and study piano or violin. Davis had other interests. In September 1944, Davis accepted his father's idea of studying at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City. After passing the audition, he attended classes in music theory, piano and dictation. Davis often skipped his classes. Much of Davis's time

8428-404: Was discriminated against in these competitions due to his race, but he added that these experiences made him a better musician. When a drummer asked him to play a certain passage of music, and he couldn't do it, he began to learn music theory . "I went and got everything, every book I could get to learn about theory." At Lincoln, Davis met his first girlfriend, Irene Birth (later Cawthon). He had

8526-518: Was executive vice-chairman of the Communist Party USA . Tyner died at his home in Bergenfield, New Jersey , on March 6, 2020. He was 81. No cause of death was given, but he had been in ill health. Tyner is considered to be one of the most influential jazz pianists of the late 20th century, an honor he earned during and after his time with Coltrane. Tyner, who was left-handed, played with

8624-459: Was falling behind in hotel rent and attempts were made to repossess his car. His heroin use became an expensive addiction, and Davis, not yet 24 years old, "lost my sense of discipline, lost my sense of control over my life, and started to drift". In August 1950, Cawthon gave birth to Davis's second son, Miles IV. Davis befriended boxer Johnny Bratton which began his interest in the sport. Davis left Cawthon and his three children in New York City in

8722-448: Was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame , which recognized him as "one of the key figures in the history of jazz". Rolling Stone described him as "the most revered jazz trumpeter of all time, not to mention one of the most important musicians of the 20th century," while Gerald Early called him inarguably one of the most influential and innovative musicians of that period. Davis

8820-446: Was neither fusion nor free jazz . On Trident (1975) Tyner played the harpsichord and celeste , instruments rarely heard in jazz. Unlike many jazz keyboardists of his generation, Tyner rarely incorporated electric keyboards or synthesizers into his work. During the '80s and '90s, Tyner performed in a trio including Avery Sharpe on bass and Louis Hayes , then Aaron Scott , on drums. He also recorded some solo albums for

8918-603: Was not there. Billy Taylor was both a performer (piano) and the Emcee of the piano workshop and the evening concerts --> and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band with Joe Williams . Davis appeared with the Gil Evans Orchestra, the first time the two men had played together since their 1961 Carnegie Hall concert. Wayne Shorter composed some of the music played by Davis and Gill Evan's Orchestra.The 1968 performance

9016-478: Was paid roughly $ 750 (equivalent to $ 8,500 in 2023 ) for each album and refused to give away his publishing rights. Davis abandoned the bebop style and turned to the music of pianist Ahmad Jamal , whose approach and use of space influenced him. When he returned to the studio in June 1955 to record The Musings of Miles , he wanted a pianist like Jamal and chose Red Garland . Blue Haze (1956), Bags' Groove (1957), Walkin' (1957), and Miles Davis and

9114-683: Was persuaded to leave the Jazz Messengers . The quintet with Shorter lasted through 1968, with Shorter becoming the group's principal composer. The album E.S.P. (1965) was named after his composition. While touring Europe, the group made its first album, Miles in Berlin (1965). Davis needed medical attention for hip pain, which had worsened since his Japanese tour during the previous year. He underwent hip replacement surgery in April 1965, with bone taken from his shin, but it failed. After his third month in

9212-805: Was planned and sponsored by the Union Program Board of the Associated Students of the University of California and the Interfraternity Council with Ralph J. Gleason, columnist of the S.F. Chronicle, as friend and advisor. Darlene Chan was the festival's founder and its first director. The second annual festival was sponsored by the Union Program Board of the Associated Students Of the U of California and held in April–May. Miles Davis , Carmen McRae , Bobby Hutcherson and Harold Land Quartet, Billy Taylor, Thelonious Monk, Cecil Taylor. He

9310-420: Was praised by critics and audiences alike, who considered it to be a highlight of the festival as well as helping Davis, the least well known musician in the group, to increase his popularity among affluent white audiences. He tied with Dizzy Gillespie for best trumpeter in the 1955 DownBeat magazine Readers' Poll. George Avakian of Columbia Records heard Davis perform at Newport and wanted to sign him to

9408-507: Was released on The New Sounds (1951), Dig (1956), and Conception (1956). Davis supported his heroin habit by playing music and by living the life of a hustler, exploiting prostitutes, and receiving money from friends. By 1953, his addiction began to impair his playing. His drug habit became public in a DownBeat interview with Cab Calloway , whom he never forgave as it brought him "all pain and suffering". He returned to St. Louis and stayed with his father for several months. After

9506-412: Was replaced by John Coltrane , completing the membership of the first quintet. To fulfill Davis' contract with Prestige, this new group worked through two marathon sessions in May and October 1956 that were released by the label as four LPs: Cookin' with the Miles Davis Quintet (1957), Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet (1958), Workin' with the Miles Davis Quintet (1960) and Steamin' with

9604-551: Was spent in clubs seeking his idol, Charlie Parker. According to Davis, Coleman Hawkins told him "finish your studies at Juilliard and forget Bird [Parker]". After finding Parker, he joined a cadre of regulars at Minton's and Monroe's in Harlem who held jam sessions every night. The other regulars included J. J. Johnson , Kenny Clarke , Thelonious Monk , Fats Navarro , and Freddie Webster . Davis reunited with Cawthon and their daughter when they moved to New York City. Parker became

#962037