Paul Pysell Professor Murphy Jazz in America November 11, 2017 The Various Musical Styles of Miles Davis Miles Davis was one of the most virtuous jazz musicians ever. He was extremely innovative and always challenged himself and his band mates. This paper will focus on the many characteristics and styles of Miles’ music. These styles include: bebop, hard bop, modal jazz, his collaborations with Gil Evans, his jazz fusion period, and many more. Bebop Era: 1945-1949 In the early 1940’s, Miles began playing in Billy Eckstein’s band. He remained in the Billy Eckstein band for only two weeks as a substitute. In those two weeks, Miles was able to play with two of bebop’s pioneers, Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. After playing with Eckstein, …show more content…
It was here that Charlie Parker had his ill-fated trip to Camarillo State Mental Hospital, Parker stayed there for several months. It was around this time when Miles started to find a solid musical identity. Each recording session that Miles did, he became showing increasing musicianship and a deeper maturity. At a recording session, Miles is in magnificent form, playing with perfect rhythmic poise, using space with drama and delicacy, and revealing an abundance of new ideas (Carr, …show more content…
In 1949, Miles formed a nine-piece band and released a series of singles that were later part of the album Birth of the Cool. It was on these records that Miles really stands out. He had a clear, non-brassy sound with ample space to solo. He has a more relaxed sound with alternating lines of melodies filled with pauses, broken rhythms, and slightly longer notes. These recordings gave birth to the “West Coast Jazz.” These recordings also highlighted Miles Davis as a separation from Charlie Parker and gave Davis a larger audience and fan base. In 1951, he began recording for the Prestige label and enlisted some the most talented beboppers of the day. Miles had developed an affinity for the partnership of trumpet and saxophone from his work with Charlie Parker. It was also around this time that Miles discovered the Harmon mute and it became a signature sound for him. In the early 1950s, Davis became addicted to heroin. Davis eventually overcame his addiction in 1954, around the same time that his performance of "'Round Midnight" at the Newport Jazz Festival earned him a recording contract with Columbia Records. It was there that he also created a permanent band, comprised of John Coltrane, Paul Chambers, Red Garland, and Philly Joe Jones. This became the First Great Quintet. During this time Davis was