RIP, Miles Davis (1926-1991)

Jazz trumpeter Miles Davis died on September 28, 1991, at the age of 65 from the combined effects of a stroke, pneumonia, and respiratory failure in Santa Monica, California. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx.

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 from Amazon.com.)
  
• Porgy and Bess (Purchase from Amazon.com.)
  
• Milestones (Purchase from Amazon.com.)
  
• Kind of Blue (Purchase from Amazon.com.)
  
• Four & More (Purchase from Amazon.com.)
  
• Miles Smiles (Purchase from Amazon.com.)
  
• Bitches Brew (Purchase from Amazon.com.)
  

Davis's second quintet can be heard on the 1965 recording of "E.S.P.," which features a long, six-chorus solo by Davis, beginning at 1:23.

Robert
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