We Want Miles: Miles Davis vs. Jazz

by Vincent Bessieres (Editor), Franck Bergerot

The most comprehensive book on the artist to date, offering an insightful look into the legendary musician and his enormous impact on the development of jazz. Miles Davis explores the life and art of one of the greatest visionaries in jazz history—through photographs, handwritten musical scores, album covers, posters, and more—cementing his reputation as the embodiment of cool, both on- and offstage. To examine his extraordinary career is also to examine the history of jazz from the mid-1940s through the early 1990s, as Davis was crucial in almost every important innovation and stylistic development during that time. His genius paved the way for these changes, both with his own performances and recordings, and by choosing collaborators with whom he forged new directions. Miles Davis—trumpeter, bandleader, and composer—was one of the most important figures in jazz history. He was born in a well-to-do family in St. Louis in 1926 and died in a Los Angeles hospital in 1991. He was at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including cool jazz, hard bop, free jazz, and fusion. Davis worked with many of the greatest jazz musicians of all time, including Ron Carter, John Coltrane, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Charlie Parker, and Max Roach, among numerous others.

Genres: Music

224 pages, Hardcover

First published May 18, 2010

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Released in conjunction with an exhibition by the Cite de la Musique (and currently on display at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts), ‘We Want Miles: Miles Davis vs. Jazz’ is a unique and all encompassing look at the more than half-century career of perhaps the biggest name in jazz.

This 223 page compendium features a wide array of photographs and accompanying text covering every stage of Miles career. From the early days as a backline horn player for a host of St. Louis jazz bands, to his relocation and emergence on the lower New York jazz scene, ‘We Want Miles’ details, in rare photographic brilliance, the ascent of one of the most prolific and oft-times controversial superstars of jazz.

Miles transition from support player to band leader and ultimately star – soloist – frontman, is covered throughout every phase. From his first New York forays into ‘hard-bop’ with Jackie McLean, J.J. Johnson and Percy Heath, to his first quartet/quintet with John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, Philly Jo Jones (and later Cannonball Adderley) to what may be considered his seminal band with Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Tony Williams, to his multiple award-winning albums with arranger Gil Evans, all of Miles well defined incarnations are chronicled here.

Supplemented with text from those involved in the recording, tours or those who knew him well, Franck Bergerot’s accompanying storyline reveals the circumstances behind the photographs in a way where both facets fully support each other. (Bergerot is the editor-in-chief of Jazz Magazine as well as the author of ‘Miles Davis: Introduction a L’ecoute du Jazz Moderne’ and the writer of all 53 liner notes contained in the box set ‘Miles Davis – The Complete Columbia Album Collection.’)

While not as complete as a full text oriented biography, ‘We Want Miles’ is much more than a coffee table photobook. It is a complete visual and textual history of every chapter in the iconic horn player’s career and ultimately portrays well both the evolutionary and the revolutionary story of this giant of jazz.

[Blog on Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Released in conjunction with an exhibition by the Cite de la Musique (and currently on display at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts), ‘We Want Miles: Miles Davis vs. Jazz’ is a unique and all encompassing look at the more than half-century career of perhaps the biggest name in jazz.

This 223 page compendium features a wide array of photographs and accompanying text covering every stage of Miles career. From the early days as a backline horn player for a host of St. Louis jazz bands, to his relocation and emergence on the lower New York jazz scene, ‘We Want Miles’ details, in rare photographic brilliance, the ascent of one of the most prolific and oft-times controversial superstars of jazz.

Miles transition from support player to band leader and ultimately star – soloist – frontman, is covered throughout every phase. From his first New York forays into ‘hard-bop’ with Jackie McLean, J.J. Johnson and Percy Heath, to his first quartet/quintet with John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, Philly Jo Jones (and later Cannonball Adderley) to what may be considered his seminal band with Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Tony Williams, to his multiple award-winning albums with arranger Gil Evans, all of Miles well defined incarnations are chronicled here.

Supplemented with text from those involved in the recording, tours or those who knew him well, Franck Bergerot’s accompanying storyline reveals the circumstances behind the photographs in a way where both facets fully support each other. (Bergerot is the editor-in-chief of Jazz Magazine as well as the author of ‘Miles Davis: Introduction a L’ecoute du Jazz Moderne’ and the writer of all 53 liner notes contained in the box set ‘Miles Davis – The Complete Columbia Album Collection.’)

While not as complete as a full text oriented biography, ‘We Want Miles’ is much more than a coffee table photobook. It is a complete visual and textual history of every chapter in the iconic horn player’s career and ultimately portrays well both the evolutionary and the revolutionary story of this giant of jazz.

[Ned Bajic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book if you can find it. Plenty of information, anecdotes and photographs. This came out as part of a canadian exhibition, would love to have seen it!