Miles Davis at 100

19 of my favorite tracks by the trumpeter, from 1947 to 1970

Today is the 100th anniversary of Miles Davis’s birth. The trumpeter’s accomplishments are many, especially his ability to pioneer many of jazz’s post-war movements. [Photo above of Miles Davis and Charlie Parker in 1947 by William P. Gottlieb]

In the 1940s, Davis became an accomplished bebop trumpeter, joining the Charlie Parker Quintet in late 1945 and leaving the group in 1948. In 1949 and ‘50, he led a nonet of notable musicians that recorded 11 tracks that were later assembled on a landmark LP known as Birth of the Cool.

Davis was early to record cool jazz with Lee Konitz in 1951 and hard bop, with his rendition of Walkin’ in 1954. A string of albums followed on Prestige, showing off his refined, elegant trumpet style.

Producer George Avakian signed Davis to Columbia in 1955 after hearing him play Thelonious Monk’s ‘Round Midnight weeks earlier at the Newport Jazz Festival. After Davis’s first album for the label, ‘Round About Midnight, in 1957, he quickly became jazz’s first superstar.

In early 1958, Davis formed his second working quintet, extending it to a sextet and recording Kind of Blue, the first modal album to become a major hit. Then came the third great quintet in 1964, followed by his first explorations of electronic music on Miles in the Sky (1968) and In a Silent Way (1969). Abstract fusion was launched with Bitches Brew (1970).

During these years, we also had Miles Davis’s brand of stardom and drama—the fashion icon, the car enthusiast, the addict, the guy who turned his back on audiences and the musician envious of Sly Stone’s style and John Lennon’s fame. Despite his excesses and flaws, Davis is the most influential and dynamic force in the second half of the 20th century, and his impact is still felt today.

Davis died on Sept. 28, 1991, at age 65. The cause was attributed to the combined effects of a stroke, pneumonia and respiratory failure.

Let’s dig into my 19 favorite tracks by Davis between 1947 and 1970.

Here’s Davis’s Milestones with the Charlie Parker All-Stars in 1947…

Here’s Budo, by Davis and Bud Powell, recorded by the Miles Davis Nonet and arranged by John Lewis in 1949…

Here’s Davis’s complete 10-inch album for Prestige called The New Sounds (1951), with Miles Davis (tp), Jackie McLean (as), Sonny Rollins (ts), Walter Bishop (p), Tommy Potter (b) and Art Blakey (d)…

Here’s Davis’s Plays the Compositions of Al Cohn in 1953, with Miles Davis (tp), Al Cohn and Zoot Sims (ts), Sonny Truitt (tb), John Lewis (p), Leonard Gaskin (b) and Kenny Clarke (d)…

Here’s George Russell’s Ezz-thetic, recorded by Davis with the Lee Konitz Sextet in 1951: Miles Davis (tp), Lee Konitz (as), Sal Mosca (p), Billy Bauer (g), Arnold Fishkin (b) and Max Roach (d)…

Here’s Davis playing Walkin’ in 1954, featuring Miles Davis (tp), J.J. Johnson (tb), Lucky Thompson (ts), Horace Silver (p), Percy Heath (b) and Kenny Clarke (d)…

Here’s Davis playing Will You Still Be Mine in 1955, for Musings of Miles on Prestige, with Miles Davis (tp), Red Garland (p), Oscar Pettiford (b) and Philly Joe Jones (d)…

Here’s Davis at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1955 playing ‘Round Midnight, a performance that motivated George Avakian to sign him to Columbia. Davis was backed by Zoot Sims (ts), Gerry Mulligan (bar), Thelonious Monk (p), Percy Heath (b) and Connie Kay (d)...

Here’s Jeanne Moreau in a scene from the 1957 French film Ascenseur Pour L’echafaud, featuring Miles Davis (tp), Barney Wilen (ts), Rene Urtreger (p), Pierre Michelot (b) and Kenny Clarke (d)…

Here’s Miles Davis playing John Carisi’s Springsville from Miles Ahead: Miles Davis + 19 in 1957…

Here’s Miles Davis and his first great working sextet in 1958 playing On Green Dolphin Street, with Miles Davis (tp), Cannonball Adderley (as)_, John Coltrane (ts), Bill Evans (p), Paul Chambers (b) and Jimmy Cobb (d)…

Here’s Miles Davis playing Freddie Freeloader in 1959 for Kind of Blue, with Miles Davis (tp), Cannonball Adderley (as), John Coltrane (ts), Wynton Kelly (p), Paul Chambers (b) and Jimmy Cobb (d)…

Here’s Miles Davis with his second great quintet in 1965 playing Wayne Shorter’s title track for the album E.S.P, with Miles Davis (tp), Wayne Shorter (ts), Herbie Hancock (p), Ron Carter (b) and Tony Williams (d)…

Here’s Miles Davis playing Wayne Shorter’s Footprints, from Miles Smiles (1967). with the same quintet…

Here’s Miles Davis playing Herbie Hancock’s The Sorcerer (1967), with the same personnel…

Here’s Miles Davis playing Wayne Shorter’s title track for Nefertiti (1968), with the same personnel…

Here’s Miles Davis playing his composition Stuff from Miles in the Sky (1968), with Davis on cornet, Herbie Hancock on electric piano and Ron Carter on electric bass…

Here’s Miles Davis playing his compositions Shhh and Peaceful from In a Silent Way (1969), with Miles Davis (tp), Wayne Shorter (ss), John McLaughlin (g), Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock (el-piano), Joe Zawinul (el-piano,org) Dave Holland (upright bass) and Tony Williams (d)…

And here’s Miles Davis playing Wayne Shorter’s Sanctuary from Bitches Brew (1970), with Miles Davis (tp), Wayne Shorter (ss), Chick Corea and Joe Zawinul (el-p), John McLaughlin (g), Dave Holland (b), Jack DeJohnette (d), Don Alias (cga) and Jim Riley ((shaker)…