Miles Davis and His Groups

Topics we will discuss and learn:

• Miles Davis is credited with spawning several of the key jazz movements
• Miles’ sideman are the main figures in jazz after the Bebop era

Miles Davis is credited with spawning several of the key jazz movements

Miles first started with Charlie Parker and in the Bebop era and his career would span the rest of the other eras in jazz except the current era of Young Lions.  

·         He is credited with helping to start the Cool Jazz movement with his album “The Birth of the Cool.” 

·         He is also credited with starting the Modal Jazz movement with his album “Kind of Blue.” 

·         He played a free style of jazz with his group that included Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Tony Williams, and Ron Carter. 

·         He is credited with starting the jazz rock-fusion era with his album “Bitches Brew.”

Miles’ sideman are the main figures in jazz after the Bebop era

Miles’ groups are a family lineage of jazz music.  Apart from Art Blakey no one else has the same caliber of membership.

Miles’ groups in the 1950’s – 1960’s:

Sonny Rollins – tenor saxophone

John Coltrane – tenor saxophone

Cannonball Adderly – alto saxophone

Red Garland – piano

Bill Evans - piano

Wynton Kelly - piano

Paul Chambers – bass

Philly Jo Jones - drums

Jimmy Cobb – drums

Miles’ groups in the 1960’s:

Wayne Shorter – tenor saxophone

Herbie Hancock - piano

Ron Carter - bass

Tony Williams – drums

Miles’ groups in the 1970’s

Wayne Shorter - keyboards

Herbie Hancock - keyboards

Joe Zawinul - keyboards

Chick Corea – keyboards

Keith Jarrett - keyboards

John McLaughlin – guitar

Marcus Miller – bass

Mike Henderson - bass

Tony Williams – drums

Jack DeJohnette – drums

Terms and topics to know:

Fusion