Happy Birthday, Miles Davis

Jazz trumpeter Miles Davis was born on May 26, 1926, in Alton, Illinois. Davis was one of the great innovators in jazz and, in fact, in 20th century music in general. As critic William Ruhlmann notes, "To examine his career is to examine the history of jazz from the mid-'40s to the early '90s, since he was in the thick of almost every important innovation and stylistic development in the music during that period ..."

Davis helped found several of the major genres of modern jazz, including bebop, cool jazz, hard bop, modal jazz, and jazz fusion. His groups included many musicians who went on to greatness, including John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Wayne Shorter, Horace Silver, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, Joe Zawinul, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, John McLaughlin, Paul Chambers, Ron Carter, Elvin Jones, Philly Joe Jones, and Jack DeJohnette. His album, Kind of Blue, is generally regarded as the best selling jazz album of all times and one of the most influential albums in jazz.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends seven albums by Miles Davis, more than any other artist. These include:

• 'Round About Midnight (Purchase the CD at Barnes & Noble.)
• Porgy and Bess (Purchase the CD at Barnes & Noble.)
• Milestones (Purchase the CD at Barnes & Noble.)
• Kind of Blue (Purchase the CD at Barnes & Noble.)
• Four & More (Purchase the CD at Barnes & Noble.)
• Miles Smiles (Purchase the CD at Barnes & Noble.)
• Bitches Brew (Purchase the CD at Barnes & Noble.)

"So What," the cut that begins Davis's great Kind of Blue album, can be heard here:

Robert
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