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123-464: May was born in New York City on September 17, 1927. As a child, he played the drums, and changed to the acoustic bass at the age of 14. He "played left-handed on an instrument strung for a right-handed player". Until 1951, May had a job in insurance while playing in clubs at night. During this period, he played with Miles Davis , Lester Young , Gene Ammons , Sonny Stitt , and Mercer Ellington . He

246-484: 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

369-583: 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

492-615: 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

615-483: 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

738-528: 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

861-650: 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

984-479: A large selection of bed-and-breakfasts and guest houses. Some visitors come to explore the natural environment of the area. A designated bikeway extends for miles north of town along the Mississippi River and below the limestone bluffs; its relatively flat grade and passage through tree-shaded areas makes it an easy ride for families. During the migration seasons, Alton is a destination for birdwatchers along

1107-403: 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

1230-442: 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

1353-492: 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

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1476-443: 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

1599-417: 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

1722-570: A popular tourist destination. Alton's location and historical heritage make it a popular destination for antique shopping, touring historic areas, and gambling aboard the Argosy Casino. Other Greater Alton attractions include Alton Marina; nine golf courses, including Spencer T. Olin, the only Arnold Palmer-designed and -managed course in Illinois or the St. Louis Metropolitan area; fine dining and night life; and

1845-422: 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

1968-459: A prosperous period in the river city's history. At the top of the hill in the commercial area, several stone churches and a fine city hall also represent the city's wealth during its good times based on river traffic, manufacturing, and shipping. It was a commercial center for a large agricultural area. Numerous residences on hills have sweeping views of the Mississippi River. The Alton area was home to Native Americans for thousands of years before

2091-763: 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

2214-610: A replica of his chair, stands on College Avenue, across from the Southern Illinois University Dental School. The Sisters of St Francis of the Martyr St George have their American province motherhouse in Alton. In 1937 two commercial fishermen from Alton caught a bull shark in the Mississippi River. Late that summer they had realized something was troubling their wood and mesh traps. Concluding that it

2337-580: 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

2460-408: 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

2583-556: 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

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2706-549: 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

2829-547: 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

2952-450: 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

3075-579: A variety of media for adults and children, strong performing arts programming including a monthly live music performance, and an outlet to the literary arts, through such programs as the "Poetry Out Loud" high school-level competition and support of the Alton Writers Guild. Alton is also home to the Alton Symphony Orchestra (ASO). As of 2011, the ASO was in its 66th season, and is considered one of

3198-512: 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

3321-455: 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

3444-415: Is a favorite spot to watch bald eagles , which feed on fish coming up in waters below the dam. A large bird sanctuary is located in an area of floodplain and wetlands on the west side of the river. The River Road goes right next to the river north to Grafton . Above that, it is often routed inland of the floodplain. It provides views of the dramatic contrast between the high cliffs of the Illinois side to

3567-671: Is a part of the River Bend area in the Metro-East region of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area. It is well known for its limestone bluffs along the river north of the city. It the former location of an historical state penitentiary, and played a significant role preceding and during the American Civil War . It was the site of the last Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas debate in October 1858. The former state penitentiary in Alton

3690-494: Is housed in the old Alton High School complex. Alton Middle School serves grades 6–8. The school is made up of three buildings: the main building, annex, and Olin Building. The Main building is the oldest. It is of architectural interest for its Romanesque design . Alton Middle School is the largest middle school in Illinois, with approximately 1,500 students. The school system has a student program for 1st through 8th grades, covering

3813-630: Is now the site of the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine . Alton station provides Amtrak intercity rail service along the Lincoln Service route. Trains travel north to Chicago Union Station , and south to Gateway Transportation Center in St. Louis. Madison County Transit provides bus service in the city with hubs downtown and at the Amtrak station. Alton has one daily newspaper, The Telegraph , formerly

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3936-680: Is the Jones-Confluence Point State Park , where one can stand at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. According to the 2010 census, Alton has a total area of 16.736 square miles (43.35 km ), of which 15.47 square miles (40.07 km ) (or 92.44%) is land and 1.266 square miles (3.28 km ) (or 7.56%) is water. The National Great Rivers Museum is located at the new Lock and Dam No. 26, or Melvin Price Locks and Dam . The lock and dam are open for tours. The lock

4059-706: Is the National Great Rivers Museum  [ Wikidata ] , which features tours of the dam itself several times per day. On the Missouri side is the Audubon Center at Riverlands , which is one of the best places in the world to view birds, as it lies near where the Mississippi Flyway merges the flight paths of the Mississippi, Illinois, and Missouri rivers. Also adjacent to the Audubon Center

4182-513: The Alton Evening Telegraph . The Telegraph provides coverage of local news, as well as sports and relevant national news. Locally owned Big Z Media operates Radio Station WBGZ 1570AM and 107.1FM and Music Radio Station 94.3FM. In 2022, Big Z Media acquired AdVantage News , a free online (daily) and print newspaper, focusing on community features and hyperlocal news. Alton also has internet-based resource, Riverbender.com. Named for

4305-594: The American Civil War , Alton played a role in the infamous Camp Jackson Affair , which led to the eviction of Missouri Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson from office. The State of Missouri's neutrality was tested in a conflict over the St. Louis Arsenal . The Federal Government reinforced the Arsenal's tiny garrison with several detachments, including a force from the 2nd Infantry under Captain Nathaniel Lyon . Concerned by widespread reports that Governor Jackson intended to use

4428-583: The Billboard Album chart. In 1976, it was certified gold for selling over 500,000 records. By 2003, it had sold one million copies. Alton, Illinois Alton ( / ˈ ɔː l t ən / AWL -tən ) is a city on the Mississippi River in Madison County, Illinois , United States, about 18 miles (29 km) north of St. Louis, Missouri . The population was 25,676 at the 2020 census . It

4551-677: 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

4674-539: The Mississippi Flyway ; winter visitors come to see the bald eagles that roost on the Illinois limestone bluffs and feed on fish in the river. It is the area of the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway . A few miles to the north is Père Marquette State Park , with a WPA -era lodge and attractions including trails for hikers and riders, and horses for hire. On January 28, 2010, Illinois

4797-476: The Missouri Volunteer Militia to attack the Arsenal and capture its 39,000 small arms, Secretary of War Simon Cameron ordered Lyon (by that time in acting command) to evacuate the majority of the arms to Illinois. 21,000 guns were secretly evacuated to Alton on the evening of April 29, 1861. The first penitentiary in Illinois was built in Alton. While only a corner of it within a few blocks of

4920-678: The Silver Star . In 1954, the city of Alton was named as one of three finalists for the location of the new United States Air Force Academy . Alton lost to the winning site of Colorado Springs, Colorado . Because of Alton's location at the Mississippi River, the Great Flood of 1993 with its high water levels caused severe damage to the city. Alton's water supply was cut off due to flooding, and townspeople had to be supplied with bottled water for more than three weeks. Many local businesses, including Anheuser-Busch of St. Louis, donated funds to help

5043-465: 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

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5166-604: The 1993 flood, was featured in the documentary Super Bridge on Nova . In 2021, voters in the city elected David Goins as Alton's first black mayor. Alton is located on the Mississippi River above the mouth of the Missouri River . Most of Alton is located on bluffs overlooking the river valley. The Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway runs along the Alton riverfront. A monument and observatory tower, Confluence Tower , located next to

5289-401: The 19th and 20th centuries to store and ship the area's grains and produce. Brick commercial buildings are spread throughout downtown. Once the site of several brick factories, Alton has an unusually high number of streets still paved in brick. The lower levels of Alton are subject to floods, many of which have inundated the historic downtown area. The dates of different flood levels are marked on

5412-494: The 19th-century founding by European Americans of the modern city. Historic accounts indicate occupation of this area by the Illinois Confederation at the time of European contact. Earlier native settlement is demonstrated by archaeological artifacts and the famous prehistoric Piasa bird painted on a cliff face nearby. The image was described in 1673 by French missionary priest Father Jacques Marquette . Alton

5535-632: 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

5658-511: 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

5781-476: The Great Flood of 1993. The award-winning cable-stayed design was done by Hanson Engineers of Springfield, Illinois . Pieces of cables identical to those of the bridge were handed out in educational settings all over the city to allow the city's children to "take home a piece of the bridge". The complex work of construction of the bridge, in which engineers had to deal with the strong river current, barge traffic and

5904-449: 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

6027-631: The Madison County Arts Council), a not-for-profit organization that supports local arts and art education and is partially funded by the Illinois Arts Council. It is located on Broadway between Henry and Ridge Streets in the building that housed the Jacoby Furniture Store for nearly 100 years. The JAC is a regional arts center, serving 17 counties throughout south central Illinois, providing a public art gallery, art classes in

6150-598: The Middle School. This program gives participating students access to wider knowledge as well as special projects. Marquette Catholic High School , named after the French explorer, Father Jacques Marquette , serves the area as well. Its sports teams are called the Explorers. Alton was home to Shurtleff College from 1827 to 1957 and prominent military prep school Western Military Academy from 1879 to 1971. The Shurtleff campus

6273-700: 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

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6396-530: The Mississippi River back to the slave state of Missouri . Alton native Robert Pershing Wadlow , listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's tallest man at 8 feet 11.1 inches tall, 2.72 m, is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in the area known as Upper Alton. The earth over his grave was raised so visitors can compare its length to other graves. A memorial to him, including a life-sized statue and

6519-604: The Mississippi. Lovejoy thus became the first martyr of the abolition movement. Alton became the seat of a diocese of the Catholic Church in 1857. Its first bishop was French-born Henry Damian Juncker . The new diocese had 58 churches, 18 priests, and 50,000 Catholics. When he died, 11 years later, the churches were 125, the priests more than 100, and the Catholics 80,000. He was succeeded by Peter Joseph Baltes from Germany (1869–1886) and James Ryan (1888–1923). In 1923

6642-527: 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

6765-571: 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

6888-403: The average family size was 3.02. In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.1 males. The median income for a household in the city

7011-445: The average number of teaching years in the district is 13.5; the high school graduation rate is 97.7%; the elementary pupil-teacher ratio is 18.9; and the secondary pupil-teacher ratio is 22.3. The Alton High School has an award-winning math team and music program. Alton High School offers an honors program. Alton High School is the new public school, complete with a three-court gymnasium and six tennis courts. The Alton Middle School

7134-534: 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

7257-528: 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

7380-467: 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

7503-537: The bishop's seat was moved to Springfield, Illinois . The Diocese of Alton, no longer a residential bishopric, is today listed by the Catholic Church as a titular see . Titular bishops appointed to the see have been John Clayton Nienstedt , and Josu Iriondo . On October 15, 1858, Alton was the site of the seventh Lincoln-Douglas debate . A memorial at the site in downtown Alton features oversized statues of Lincoln and Douglas, as they would have appeared during

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7626-488: 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

7749-439: The broad, flat, green agricultural countryside of Portage des Sioux, Missouri . The Great River Road is a popular bicycle touring route. Hidden in a notch of the cliff is the tiny village of Elsah , once a down-and-dirty, liquor-soaked tugboaters' retreat, now with renovated properties and antique shops in historic houses. As of the census of 2000, there were 30,496 people, 12,518 households, and 7,648 families residing in

7872-433: The city. The population density was 1,949.3 inhabitants per square mile (752.6/km ). There were 13,894 housing units at an average density of 888.1 per square mile (342.9/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 72.3% White , 24.7% African American , 0.18% Native American , 0.4% Asian , <0.1% Pacific Islander , 0.7% from other races , and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.5% of

7995-464: The confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers in neighboring Hartford, IL , has been constructed to provide an overview of the Great Rivers area. This point also marks the beginning of the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition . Also on the river at Alton is Lock and Dam 26 , the newest and busiest lock and dam complex on the main channel of the Mississippi River. Adjacent to it on the Illinois side

8118-456: 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,

8241-757: The debate. Congressional representatives came to Alton when they drafted the Thirteenth Amendment of the Constitution, to permanently end slavery throughout the Union. Alton resident and US Senator Lyman Trumbull , chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee , co-wrote the Thirteenth Amendment. His Alton home, the Lyman Trumbull House , is a National Historic Monument. Just two weeks into

8364-1213: The decade and Charles Brown later in the decade. Credits in the 1990s and 2000s included work with Dave Van Ronk , Doc Cheatham , Benny Waters , Marlena Shaw , Irvin Stokes , a trio with Jane Jarvis and Benny Powell , Eddie Locke , Charles McPherson , and the international tour of the Statesmen of Jazz . May died of a heart attack in New York City on January 4, 2008. With Mose Allison With George Benson With Carmen Bradford With Charles Brown With John Coltrane With Lou Donaldson With Jean DuShon With Frank Foster With Johnny Hartman With Jane Jarvis With Herbie Mann With Billy Mitchell With Charlie Rouse With Shirley Scott With Marlena Shaw With Sonny Stitt With Irvin Stokes With Billy Taylor With Dave Van Ronk With Benny Waters Miles Davis Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991)

8487-474: 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

8610-813: 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

8733-407: The early 1970s he began playing electric bass in addition to the double-bass, and played in that decade with Dizzy Gillespie , Johnny Hartman , Joe Newman , Archie Shepp , Frank Foster , Mickey Tucker , and Ruby Braff . In the 1980s he did work with musicals both on Broadway and on tour, including Sophisticated Ladies and Big Deal , in addition to work with George Benson early in

8856-410: 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

8979-630: 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

9102-590: 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

9225-443: 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

9348-552: 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

9471-496: 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

9594-479: 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,

9717-465: 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

9840-641: 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

9963-480: The large grain silos, part of the Ardent Mills, near the Argosy Casino at the waterfront. The flood of 1993 is considered the worst of the last century. Alton became an important town for abolitionists , as Illinois was a free state, separated from the slave state of Missouri only by the Mississippi River. Pro-slavery activists also lived there and slave catchers often raided the city. Escaped slaves would cross

10086-548: 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

10209-495: The local bend in the Mississippi River, Riverbender is a portal serving local and national news, sports, obits, classifieds, and events. In 2007 it was the first company to broadcast the Alton High School 's sports games live online. The 1979 feature film Dreamer , starring Tim Matheson , Susan Blakely and Jack Warden , was primarily shot on location in Alton. The McPike Mansion and Mineral Springs Hotel were featured on

10332-414: 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

10455-448: 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

10578-407: 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

10701-451: 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

10824-449: The people of Alton. The original bridge connecting Alton with West Alton, Missouri , was a two-lane (one in each direction) bridge that had become a hazard for motorists and a hindrance for emergency vehicles. The northernmost bridge in the St. Louis metropolitan area, it was torn down in the 1990s. The current Clark Bridge , with two lanes of divided traffic in each direction, plus two bike lanes, opened in 1994. Work had proceeded during

10947-404: 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

11070-408: The population. There were 12,518 households, out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.3% were married couples living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and

11193-718: The premier community orchestras in the Midwest. Musicians range from young adults in their teens to senior citizens. It holds four regular season concerts, a stylish pops concert, and a children's concert; the symphony offers performances to entertain and educate diverse sectors of the community. Founded in 1934 as a community theater, the Alton Little Theater continues to produce a full season of dramatic and comedic plays and musicals. Its all-volunteer members bring quality theater productions to Alton in an intimate setting. The Alton high schools all offer theatrical productions throughout

11316-500: 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

11439-454: The river remains, it once extended nearly to "Church Hill". During the American Civil War , Union forces used it to hold prisoners of war, and some 12,000 Confederates were held there. During the smallpox epidemic of 1863–1864, an estimated 1500–2200 men died. A Confederate mass grave on the north side of Alton holds many of the dead from the epidemic and a memorial marks the site. Often when Confederate prisoners escaped, they tried to cross

11562-597: The river to seek shelter in Alton, and proceed to safer places through stations of the Underground Railroad . During the years before the American Civil War , several homes were equipped with tunnels and hiding places for stations on the Underground Railroad to aid slaves escaping to the North . On November 7, 1837, the abolitionist printer Reverend Elijah P. Lovejoy was murdered by a pro- slavery mob while he tried to protect his Alton-based press from being destroyed for

11685-530: The school year as well. Alton Children's Theater, founded in 1958 by Solveig Sullivan, has provided live theater for children through the years. The plays are now held at Lewis and Clark Community College 's Hatheway Hall. For many years, the company has performed for up to 10,000 children annually. This all-volunteer membership hires a professional director, who works with the members for the annual week of performances. Based on 2006 district data, Alton Community Unit School District 11 enrollment stands at 6,480;

11808-565: 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

11931-472: 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

12054-488: 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,

12177-552: 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

12300-446: The third time. He had moved from St. Louis because of opposition there. He had printed many abolitionist tracts and distributed them throughout the area. When one of the mob made a move to set the old warehouse on fire, Lovejoy, armed with only a pistol, went outside to try to stop him. The pro-slavery man shot him dead (with a shotgun, five rounds through the midsection). The mob stormed the warehouse and threw Lovejoy's printing press into

12423-619: 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

12546-525: The town. Local industry also includes Cope Plastics and Hanley Industries. Alton was home to once-thriving, now defunct, industries such as the Owens-Illinois Glass Bottle Works and Alton Box Board Company (a maker of all types of cardboard boxes for all types of uses). Restructuring in the industry in the mid-20th century led Alton to create a new future. It has facilities for corporate and vacation retreats and it has transitioned into

12669-449: 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

12792-426: 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

12915-491: Was $ 31,213, and the median income for a family was $ 37,910. Males had a median income of $ 33,083 versus $ 22,485 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 16,817. About 14.7% of families and 18.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.8% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over. In the late 19th and 20th centuries, Alton became a town of heavy industry and manufacturing. Laclede Steel established major steel manufacturing operations in

13038-490: Was a fish, they built a strong wire trap and baited it with chicken guts. The next morning, they caught the 5-foot 84-pound shark, which they displayed in the Calhoun Fish Market, where it attracted crowds for days. World War II saw a group of seven brothers join the military and variously became decorated veterans. Among these were Millard Glen Gray, who was decorated by Douglas MacArthur , and Neil Gray, who received

13161-543: 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

13284-418: Was also taught by Charles Mingus in the early 1950s. Through most of the 1950s he played in a trio with Billy Taylor , and also worked in the late 1950s with John Coltrane and Chet Baker . From 1959 to 1963 he played behind vocalist Gloria Lynne , and in the 1960s he also worked with Dave McKenna , Herman Foster , Shirley Scott , Stanley Turrentine , Herbie Mann , Mose Allison , and Earl Hines . In

13407-528: 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

13530-457: 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

13653-511: 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

13776-588: Was developed as a river town in January 1818 by Rufus Easton , who named it after his son. Easton ran a passenger ferry service across the Mississippi River to the Missouri shore. Alton is located amid the confluence of three navigable rivers: the Illinois , the Mississippi, and the Missouri . Alton grew into a river trading town with an industrial character. The city rises steeply from the waterfront, where massive concrete grain silos and railroad tracks were constructed in

13899-404: 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

14022-459: 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

14145-448: 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

14268-478: 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

14391-683: 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

14514-420: 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

14637-507: 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

14760-412: 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

14883-546: Was selected for a $ 1.2 billion federal award to bring high-speed passenger rail service to Illinois by 2015–2017. Alton has been selected as a station stop on a line running from St. Louis to Chicago, and opened on September 13, 2017. Alton won the Small Business Revolution: Main Street contest and got a $ 100,000 boost to its community. Alton is home to the Jacoby Arts Center (JAC) (formerly

15006-551: 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

15129-542: Was used during the Civil War to hold up to 12,000 Confederate prisoners of war. Although Alton once was growing faster than the nearby city of St. Louis, a coalition of St. Louis businessmen planned to build a competing town to stop Alton's expansion and bring business to St. Louis. The resulting town was Grafton, Illinois . Many blocks of housing in Alton were built in the Victorian Queen Anne style . They represent

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