Miles Dewey Davis III (1926-91, above) was one of the most influential and innovative musicians of the 20th century. A trumpeter, bandleader, and composer, Miles Davis was at the forefront of almost every major development in jazz after World War II, playing on many important early bebop records, helping develop modal jazz, and helping launch jazz fusion. The landmark album Birth of the Cool, recorded over several sessions in 1949-50, not only put Miles Davis on the map, it started a whole new style of jazz music. Its slower and softer sound resonated throughout the jazz world and influenced musicians everywhere, helping launch the mellow sound that would later be called West Coast Jazz (Dave Brubeck, Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker.) The Stanford Jazz Festival celebrates the genius of Miles Davis on the 80th anniversary of his birth, with this concert led by local jazz luminaries Wayne Wallace and John Worley, featuring a recreation of the Birth of the Cool suite as well as other favorite compositions.
Inside Jazz: “ Birth of the Cool: Some History”
7 pm | Free with concert ticket
Speaker: Sonny Buxton, KCSM Jazz 91.1 FM