The genius of miles lies in his music, not in his streetways. Davis had the ability to produce tracks that are mellow and tranquil, like blue in green, and tracks. Miles ahead is a 2015 american biographical drama film directed by don cheadle in his feature directorial debut, which cheadle cowrote with steven baigelman, stephen j. Credited as elizabeth taylor, she had a role in the offbroadway productions of carmen jones and porgy and bess. Jeanne moreau and miles davis during the recording of the music for louis malles film elevator to the gallows, in december, 1957. I saw miles play in san francisco in the late 1980s. The movie begins with davis interview with journalist dave brill ewan mcgregor, with davis on the verge of reemerging from a fiveyear break from music what some call the lost years.
Davis adopted a variety of musical directions in a fivedecade career that kept him at the forefront of many major stylistic. Hes the scientific doctor who invented this new science in music. Louis malles elevator to the gallows, and its historic. He was also one of the most identifiable and misunderstood pop icons of the 20th century. A great story i heard about miles davis a good friend of my jazz professor was a young i think he said like 20, white jazz bass player trying to make his name in the boston area.
The film features miles davis biographer ian carr alongside other contributors, including miless fellow st. Miles davis miles the father from the miles davis story. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th century music. She was the beginning of all that when she was singing as betty davis. That made me miles dewey davis iii, but everybody in my family called me junior.
A monumental innovator, icon, and maverick, trumpeter miles davis helped define the course of jazz as well as popular culture in the 20th century, bridging the gap between bebop, modal music, funk, and fusion. The miles davis story interweaves rare interviews with miles himself with the insights and memories of his family, friends and many of the great musicians who played with him during his long career. Release dates 2 also known as aka 2 release dates uk 14 april 2001. Not many gigs, just barely surviving, yet slowly making a name for himself. If betty were singing today she be something like madonna, something like prince, only as a woman. It stars don cheadle, who also cowrote and directed. Trumpeterbandleader miles davis 192691 was a catalyst for the major innovations in postbop, cool jazz, hardbop, and jazzfusion, and his wispy and emotional trumpet tones were some of the most evocative sounds ever heard. His legacy is so obvious, but there wasnt a complete biographical movie done about him until this one. A broadway dancer, francess career faltered after she left the hit musical west side story as miles told her, a woman should be with her man. Throughout most of his 50year career, davis played the trumpet in a lyrical, introspective style, often employing a stemless harmon mute to make his sound more personal and intimate.
First aired on bbc channel 4, the miles davis story is a twohour documentary investigating the life of the infamous jazz legend. Davis, impersonated to a fault by don cheadle who also directed the film, is. The new miles davis movie miles ahead takes an unconventional and impressionistic approach to a shapeshifting musical giant. Sources the way you change and help music is by tryin to invent new ways to play, if you re gonna ad lib and be what they call a jazz musician, miles davis told down beat. At the very end of miles ahead, the recently released film about miles davis, we are finally in jazz heaven. The miles davis story tv movie 2001 the miles davis.
Bitches brew is probably one of the most important albums of its era, combining jazz and rock influences into something entirely new. I was born may 26, 1926, in alton, illinois, a little river town up on the mississippi river about twentyfive miles north of east st. His personal life was influenced by his drugabuse and for a little while he even pimped. The interview triggers a flashback to the time when davis was no more. British producerdirector mike dibb provides classic performances. The marriage of miles davis and paris, turns french cinema on its heals, and takes us along for a stylish, smooth, and sexy jazz filled ride. Daviss mother, cleota mae henry davis, wanted him to learn to play the piano. Incredible british documentary about a virtuoso of music. This engrossing british documentary shows the complex layers of this. Virtually all the contributors to this expansive documentary have. Spain 24 october 2004 inedit barcelona international music documentary film festival also known as aka. Miles dewey davis iii may 26, 1926 september 28, 1991 was an american jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Miles davis meeting his first wife from the miles davis story by miles davis.
Miles ahead is a biographical drama about legendary jazz trumpeter miles davis. Rivele, and christopher wilkinson, which interprets the life and compositions of jazz musician miles davis. Frances taylor davis september 28, 1929 november 17, 2018 was an american dancer and actress who was a member of the katherine dunham company, and the first african american ballerina to perform with the paris opera ballet. Miles davis, famous jazz trumpeter, composer and bandleader, was born 26 may 1926 in alton. The autobiography im wondering if betty mabry davis will make an appearance in the miles davis biopic let the casting. As you probably know, miles never addressed audiences, he just came out and wandered back and forth on stage, playing his horn and leading his band. Frances took up acting, appearing with sammy davis jr. Considering that it revolves around one of the most prolific.
Even as the primary focus remains on the music, none of davis skeletons are off limits, with plenty of firsthand accounts of him at his best and. Miles daviss profile including the latest music, albums, songs, music videos and more updates. Heres a trip through five decades with the man and his horn, including one groundbreaking album for each tenyear period. Miles davis celebrity profile check out the latest miles davis photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. Miles davis a french girlfriend from the miles davis story by miles davis. Miles davis simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Through rare footage and interviews, we learn of daviss middleclass upbringing and his early days with bop legends dizzy gillespie and charlie parker. Miles davis ascenseur pour lechafaud lift to the scaffold.
They also owned a big ranch in northern arkansas, where davis learned to ride horses. Don cheadles film, miles ahead, is miles apart from other. All blues is timeless song, one for the history books. Miles davis trumpet, bill evans piano, jimmy cobb drums, paul chambers bass, john coltrane tenor saxophone, julian cannonball adderley. Friday night miles davis in person at the blackhawk, san francisco. Saturday night miles davis in person at the blackhawk, san francisco. The miles davis story tv movie 2001 release info imdb. The most penetrating and poignant portraits of davis come from musicians who played with and were influenced by him, including shirley horn, herbie hancock, joe zawinul, and keith jarrett. The sound of miles trumpet is eerie and so beautiful, it hasnt and cant be produced by any other. Throughout a professional career lasting 50 years, miles davis played the trumpet in a lyrical, introspective, and melodic style, often employing a stemless harmon mute to make his sound more personal and intimate. This twohour documentary was produced by mike dibb for the bbcs channel four network and as of this writing in 2008 the miles davis story 2002 stands as the most honest biopic assessment of his life and career that has ever been assembled. Miles davis the legend of miles davis from the miles.
Very complete biography of miles davis through the eyes of his family, band member, influences etc to me miles davis is modern jazz. Miles davis miles at home from the miles davis story. The film stars cheadle, emayatzy corinealdi, and ewan mcgregor, and closed the new york film festival on october 11, 2015. The miles davis story dvd from the guardian the guardian. After 10 years in the works, miles ahead, the new miles davis biopic starring don cheadle, is finally hitting theaters on apr. Miles davis beat his wives and made beautiful music. The miles davis story article by colin fleming, published on july 10, 2004 at all about jazz. A virulent sort of man with a bent for misogyny, selfishness, and a deep rooted, almost fanatical racism, miles davis, as his music asserted and any thoughtful analysis confirms, was also one of jazzs three or four greatest artists, an individual belonging to group of men with sublime and graceful talent who also happen to embody the byronic dictate of mad, bad, and dangerous to know.