Having to grow up in the American society during a period of changes and turmoil. Miles Davis was one of the African Americans who had the courage and willingness to stand up for what was right by fighting for equality. Being a man of music, Miles used his music to show people their desire for equality through his songs. Miles Davis’s music style reflects the civil rights movement through the changes, evolution, and presentation of his music. Jazz music had a specific standard to it, Davis ignored that standard symbolizing that it was time for change and equality for all in the United States of America. By standing up for what was right and innovating his music, he was able to become a influential musician of the twentieth century and an iconic
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The singles he released with this band would later be released as part of the album Birth of Cool, considered to be a significant contribution to modern jazz. In the 1950s, Miles became a heroine addict, but he didn’t let this addiction stop him from recording music. It became more difficult for him to make music and perform, but by 1954 he had overcome his addiction to heroine. Being one of the founding fathers of cool jazz by recording the album Boplicity; Miles shifted his focus to recording Walkin’ in 1954. This album is returning to the soul and actual roots of jazz through hard bop. Around the same time period, Miles was able to earn himself a recording contract with Columbia Records because of his performance at the Newport Jazz Festival. Miles style of music started to change, developing new characteristics. His style of playing became softer and slower; this new approach to music can be noticed in Milestones. The approach that Miles took to that album is now referred to as modal; where musicians abandon cord and use scales for improvisations. In the late 1950s, Miles and his sextet recorded Porgy, Bess, and Kind of Blue, which was his final album for the 50s. “Now considered one of the best jazz albums ever recorded, Kind of Blue is credited as the largest-selling jazz album of all time, selling more than 2 million copies” …show more content…
Miles Davis received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 1990 for his body of work from the beginning of the Bebop era all the way to Modal era. Miles Davis played for the last time at the Montreux Jazz Festival with Quincy Jones, where they played Davis’s early work. In 1993, Miles won his final Grammy for his recordings with Quincy Jones, but unfortunately Miles had succumbed to pneumonia and respiratory failure on September 28, 1991 at the age of 65. Today we have recognized his legacy to be a well-respected icon in the history of jazz because of his innovations and influences in his music through his experimentations and changes according to the time
The singles he released with this band would later be released as part of the album Birth of Cool, considered to be a significant contribution to modern jazz. In the 1950s, Miles became a heroine addict, but he didn’t let this addiction stop him from recording music. It became more difficult for him to make music and perform, but by 1954 he had overcome his addiction to heroine. Being one of the founding fathers of cool jazz by recording the album Boplicity; Miles shifted his focus to recording Walkin’ in 1954. This album is returning to the soul and actual roots of jazz through hard bop. Around the same time period, Miles was able to earn himself a recording contract with Columbia Records because of his performance at the Newport Jazz Festival. Miles style of music started to change, developing new characteristics. His style of playing became softer and slower; this new approach to music can be noticed in Milestones. The approach that Miles took to that album is now referred to as modal; where musicians abandon cord and use scales for improvisations. In the late 1950s, Miles and his sextet recorded Porgy, Bess, and Kind of Blue, which was his final album for the 50s. “Now considered one of the best jazz albums ever recorded, Kind of Blue is credited as the largest-selling jazz album of all time, selling more than 2 million copies” …show more content…
Miles Davis received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 1990 for his body of work from the beginning of the Bebop era all the way to Modal era. Miles Davis played for the last time at the Montreux Jazz Festival with Quincy Jones, where they played Davis’s early work. In 1993, Miles won his final Grammy for his recordings with Quincy Jones, but unfortunately Miles had succumbed to pneumonia and respiratory failure on September 28, 1991 at the age of 65. Today we have recognized his legacy to be a well-respected icon in the history of jazz because of his innovations and influences in his music through his experimentations and changes according to the time