The Miles Davis century: The definition, and evolution, of cool
Miles Davis, born on May 26, 1926, is celebrated as a transformative figure in jazz music. Known for his constant reinvention, he played a pivotal role in the evolution of various jazz styles, from bebop to cool jazz and beyond. On the centennial of his birth, his legacy continues to inspire discussions about innovation and influence in music.
- ▪Miles Davis was born on May 26, 1926, and is recognized as a major figure in jazz history.
- ▪He began his career during the rise of bebop and later became a leading figure in cool jazz with his album 'Birth of the Cool.'
- ▪Davis's work in the 1960s and 1970s included the groundbreaking album 'Bitches Brew,' which fused jazz with rock elements.
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Music The Miles Davis century: The definition, and evolution, of cool May 26, 20262:27 AM ET Nate Chinen Miles Davis (seen here during a concert in New York's Central Park in 1969) might have been more compelled to self-reinvention than any other artist in the 20th century. Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images An icon, an iconoclast: Both terms apply equally to Miles Davis, who was born a century ago, on May 26, 1926. If that sounds like a paradox, it's just one among many in the life and career of this trumpeter, bandleader and composer, who looms as large in the popular imagination as any jazz artist you can name. He means many things to many people, precisely because of the myriad things he embodied or articulated himself.
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