Miles Davis Research Paper

Trumpet player Miles Davis is considered to be one of if not the most influential musician of him time. Davis was on May 26, 1926 in Illinois, moving to New York later in his life to chase the dream of music being his full time career, eventually gaining a full-time job with musician Charlie Parker[1]. Davis’ debut came in 1947, in a session that featured Parker, pianist John Lewis, bassist Nelson Boyd, and drummer Max Roach[1]. In the early 50s Davis became addicted to heroin, a decision that severely influenced how he played the trumpet in a negative way[1]. He signed a contract with label company Columbia in 1955, allowing him to put a more permanent band together. The band featured saxophonist John Coltrane, pianist Red Garland, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Philly Joe Jones. The band itself eventually became known as The Miles Davis Quintet[1].

Saxophonist John Coltrane was born on September 23 1926 in North Carolina. Originally playing the alto saxophone, he switched to tenor in 1947 with some speculating that this was the result of meeting alto saxophone player Charlie Parker[2]. At some point in the early 50s Coltrane became a heroin addict similar to Miles Davis which made it more difficult for him to find bands to take part in[2]. Coltrane did

Garland joined the United States Army in 1941, a decision that may very well be what started his musical career as hebegan to learn the piano while stationed in Fort Huachuca, Arizona[3]. After leaving the military in 1944, Garland played around Texas until 1946 when he was asked to join trumpet player Oran Page’s band[3]. After leaving Page’s band Garland stayed in New York due to being able to find work there, eventually being approached by Miles Davis to record for his Prestige album, “The Musings of Miles”, on June 7, 1955. The recording took place at Rudy Van Gelder’s studio, the studio where Garland officially became part of The Miles Davis