1926–1991

Miles Davis didn’t come to New York until the 1940s, when he moved into an apartment with Charlie Parker and began to attend the Juilliard school. He quickly became known for his amazing trumpet playing, and together with Parker he helped to turn the city on to bebop. After his early success he became addicted to heroin and spent some years in Chicago; he kicked the addiction in 1953 and appeared once again on the New York scene. His music during this second phase was grimmer, bluer, and more emotionally charged; rather than the cool jazz of his youth he played hard bop, modal, and fusion jazz. From Birth of the Cool (1949) to Kind of Blue (1959) to Bitches Brew (1969), Davis’ musical output was prodigious and varied. He was one of the great trumpeters of the 20th century.