At the very beginning of the 20th century, a new movement in the music was born. Basically, as a synthesis of the African rhythm and tradition and European music theory, the jazz music was brought to life.
Cool jazz was born around late 40′, as a protest to the bebop (a niche in the jazz music). In contrast to the bebop (fast tempos and explosive improvisations), cool jazz is characterized by relaxed tempos and lighter tone. In these article we will be talking about one of the greatest figures in music, overall.
A visionary, inventor, innovator, and many more epithets go to his majesty, both by musicians and non-musician recipients. Born 26th of May 1926 in Illinois, Miles Davis was a jazz trumpeter, bandleader, a composer and is remembered as a very fertile creator and one of the most influential figures in the history of jazz.
He has recorded more than 130 albums and done a lot of collaborations. Also, a few albums changed the course of development of the jazz music. Therefore, we will point out the albums that crowned him as a father of few sub-movements.
- “Birth of the Cool”. In contrast to the bebop (a fast tempo and explosive improvisation-driven niche) style, the cool is characterized by relaxed tempos and lighter tone. Alongside few other contributors (Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan) and their work, this album shaped the cool jazz.
- “Kind of Blue”. Inspired by George Russell and his “jazz theory”, Miles brought to life the modal jazz. This album changed the course of development of the jazz forever, and to this day is the best selling album in the genre. With his innovative and original approach, Bill Evans helped the realization. He wrote “Blue in Green”.
- “Sketches of Spain”. Working with the arranger Gil Evans, in this album gets into recreation of classical themes, such as “Concierto de Aranjuez” by Joaquin Rodrigo.
- “Miles in the Sky”. It is his first electric album, and also a predecessor of the jazz-rock fusion style. He and his quintet are continuing this kind of work with “In a Silent Way” and “Bitches Brew” the following 2 years.
- In the late 80′ he is teaming up with Marcus Miller, a bass player and main music writer in Miles’ band. This decade, they are fusing jazz with funk, disco and popular music. “Tutu”; “Amandla”; “Aura”.
- “Doo Bop”. This is his last album, published in 1992, after his death. There he dwells into hip-hop and mixes it up with jazz.
After nearly 18 years of his death, Miles still remains the man who reimagined the jazz a million times, a big influence to the musical world. His creation remains undisputed and his sound unreached – his melodies still linger in the sky ravishing the upper structures, and his ideas… they are miles ahead of our time, dwelling so deep in the core of the Earth and then bursting into the ocean, in the wind, in every tree and everything that nature is.
“If you’re not making a mistake, it’s a mistake” – Miles Davis