Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis IIIwas an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th century music. With his ever-changing directions in music, Davis was at the forefront of a number of major stylistic developments in jazz over his five-decade career...
ProfessionTrumpet Player
Date of Birth26 May 1926
CityAlton, IL
kids rocks years
I used to enjoy all the white bands when I was a kid listening to the radio. But the record companies, they take music and label it - like, they say "rock". Because the white singers can't sound like James Brown, they call him "soul". They've been doing that for years. That's the prejudice crap.
women mean want
I'm not messing around with nobody's woman. If I want a woman I go get her - you know what I mean?
ifs knows asks
If you have to ask, you'll never know.
music jazz heroin
Jazz is like blues with a shot of heroin!
men thinking sight
Audiences - they like colour, you know. I can go out there wearing a red suit, man, and they'll say I'm out of sight ... I think they should be educated; you should always drop something on an audience ... When you get in front of an audience, you should try to give 'em something. After all, they're there looking at you like this. You can't go out and give 'em nothing.
inspiration
All my inspiration comes from Ahmad Jamal.
music understood ifs
If you understood everything I say, you'd be me!
done legends miles
I know what I've done for music, but don't call me a legend. Just call me Miles Davis.
years giving one-day
At least one day out of the year all musicans should just put their instruments down, and give thanks to Duke Ellington.
worry jazz notes
Don't worry about playing a lot of notes. Just find one pretty one.
music men legends
A legend is an old man with a cane known for what he used to do. I'm still doing it.
trying musician entertainers
I ain't no entertainer, and ain't trying to be one. I am one thing, a musician.
thinking play giving
The music has gotten thick. Guys give me tunes and they're full of chords. I can't play them...I think a movement in jazz is beginning away from the conventional string of chords, and a return to emphasis on melodic rather than harmonic variation. There will be fewer chords but infinite possibilities as to what to do with them.
Always listen for what you can leave out.