Sonic Editions

Miles Davis was all things to all players, evolving from a precocious practitioner of bebop and cool to a pioneer of electric fusion. A globetrotter, his work branched into other media; in Paris he improvised the soundtrack for Louis Malle’s eclectic masterpiece, Elevator to the Gallows, and he made three tours of Japan in the sixties and seventies. It’s safe to say that without Davis, jazz wouldn’t be what it is today. Here, you'll find a small sample of what's on offer.

Miles Rehearsing at Birdland, 1949, Bridgeman Images

Here we see Miles preparing for a set at Birdland, the famous New York jazz club. Among the luminaries that performed there over the years were John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, and Charlie Parker, to name just a few.

Jeanne Moreau and Miles Davis, 1957, AGIP/Bridgeman Images

One of Miles' most famous projects is the soundtrack for Louis Malle's crime thriller, Ascenseur pour l'échafaud, which he improvised in Paris over a few days, and which has come to be considered one of the most groundbreaking pieces in the history of jazz. Miles is sitting with Jeanne Moreau, the star of the picture.

Davis at Tanglewood, 1970, David Gahr

With Gary Bartz on sax and Jack DeJohnette on drums, Davis performs at the Tanglewood music festival in Lenox, Massachusetts.

If you'd like to see more, check out the collection here.