1. Brass Artist Project Miles Davis (1926-1991)
Alec Moeller
MUSE 250-Brass Techniques
12/5/17

2. Accomplishments Legendary Jazz Trumpet player
Bandleader of several Jazz combos
One of the most influential figures of Jazz and 20th century music
Released 51 studio albums, 36 live albums, and 57 singles
Won five Grammy awards.

3. Davis’s Early Life
Born on May 26th, in Alton, Illinois (15 minutes away from St. Louis).
Received his first trumpet in 1935 from a friend of his father
Graduated from East St. Louis High School in 1944

4. Early Career in New York City (1940s)
Began classes at the Institute of Musical Arts (Later became known as Julliard)
Dropped out after three semesters because of wanting to fully commit to jazz performance
Sought out Jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker and played in Jam sessions with his combo in harlem nightclubs
Davis recorded with Parkers combo in the 1945 Savoy sessions. These recordings set the standards of the Jazz Bebop movement.

5. The Hard Bop and Modal Jazz Period (1950s) ”
The first half of the 1950’s decade was difficult for Davis because of being a heroin addict and clinical depression
After recovering from addiction, he signed with Columbia Records after being discovered at the Newport Jazz Festival of 1955.
Davis finished the decade with 6 albums with Columbia and more with a few other record labels.
He recorded the soundtrack for the 1957 French movie Ascenseur Pour L'échafaud
Génerique from the Ascenseur Pour L'échafaud soundtrack.

6. Jazz/Rock Fusion era (1960s)
In 1963, Davis formed a quintet with rhythm section members Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams, and saxophonist George Coleman (Wayne Shorter later).
In 1968, Davis recorded the Miles in the Sky album. For this album the quintet introduced electronic instruments and the new steady beat of rock drumming to the older jazz sound.

7. The Electric Era (1970s) Davis was involved in a car accident in 1972.
Because of this accident, his combo at the time took Davis’s previous album Bitches Brew and made it more electronic sounding.
The group made it more electronic by high powered amplification and reducing the importance of individual solos. This helped favor the funk groove within the ensemble.
His live album recorded from the Newport and Schaefer Music Festivals in 1975 would be the last album recorded with Davis for the next five years and the last of the 1970’s decade.

8. Davis’s Final Decade (1980’s and early 90’s)
Davis returned to playing music in 1981 with his first album being The Man With the Horn.
This album broke Davis’s 30 year tenured contract with Columbia because this album was recorded by Warner Brothers Studios
This last decade was known for Davis experimenting playing “live” while recording with prerecorded tracks
Davis’s last album ever recorded was titled Doo-Bop in January of 1991.

9. Death
Miles Davis died in St. John’s hospital in Santa Monica, California on September 28th, 1991
His death was caused by the combination of respiratory failure, stroke, and pneumonia

10. Legacy
Davis is considered on of the great innovators of the Jazz Genre.
He helped jazz music evolve into different and more modern genres
Davis really emphasized musical expression throughout the different genres he was a part of.
Davis changed the ideas of what music can be. “Do not fear mistakes- there are none”- Miles Davis

11. References https://www.biography.com/people/miles-davis-9267992