Episode 13: Me & My Jazz by Yomi Sower: Miles Davis Pt.1: A Legend no Lockdown

“Madam, Madam, where are you heading to…?”  The Police officer asked, politely , as the Uber passenger window rolled down. On most days the Police never encountered any vehicles for several hours at a stretch, so it seemed this officer was really only stopping my Uber to kill boredom rather than conduct any major enquiry. The date was May 26, 2020 and I had left home  several hours ahead of my Radio Show’s Broadcast, so as to arrive at least 3 hours before it aired. You recall in the last episode 12 ( Is Jazz Danceable Music?) where I had the gruesome task of convincing the Radio Station’s Programmes Manager for a Drive Time Slot,..? well, I succeeded and was assigned 4-6 PM every Tuesday to Host Maximum Jazz Radio Programme.

With the Uber’s side window rolled down, I peered out to take a quick scan of the surrounding area as far as my eyes could see… there were no other vehicles on the street…! But it was no surprise at all; this was the peak of the COVID Pandemic. All citizens had been instructed to stay indoors, practise social-distancing, while the nation was on lockdown. During those days, I was grateful  to be working in the media, as Media Staff were included under essential duties and were exempted from the restriction in movement. So I responded, cheerfully, “Oh I’m going to the Radio Station, I work with the media”. Then the Officer asked to see my Radio Station Staff I.d,  but I didn’t have one yet, so I simply showed him the publication flyer promoting that  day’s Broadcast. It was the Flyer for The MILES DAVIS TRIBUTE COMPETITION GHANA ,that had Miles Davis’ image, the name of the Radio station, date and time of Broadcast. So I jokingly added through my face mask… ” I promise to give you a shout out on live Radio”  , which the officer looking  amused and obviously enjoying the brief interaction he was having with a Civilian, probably the only one he would have until his shift ended that day, returned with a wide smile behind his face mask. With that he signaled for us to continue with our journey.

When I look back to that memorable day, I feel so blessed that the day  assigned for my Jazz Radio Programme, Maximum Jazz, was Tuesday every week. This particular Tuesday happened to fall on May 26, 2020 ( Miles Davis’ birthday) Rather than pay simple Tribute to Miles Davis during the 2 hours Broadcast of Maximum Jazz Radio Programme  I decided to organise a Live Studio Tribute Concert broadcast from the premises of the Radio Station, i.e Radio Univers 105.7FM Accra, Ghana.

A few Musicians were already waiting at the Radio Station to participate in the Tribute by the time we arrived. Due to the prohibition of gigs, live entertainment & social gatherings, and with compulsory lockdown, Musicians had no real source of income anymore, many were facing financial difficulties. Also numerous Jazz Lovers could not go out to attend a typical Jazz concert even if there were any taking place. So when the idea of having a Concert inside the Radio station’s studio came to me, as a means of assisting Musicians financially and a venue to host Live Jazz Entertainment which Jazz lovers could experience without leaving home, I quickly put it together, invited several Musicians to perform Miles Davis’ repertoire and compete for prize moneys. Thus MILES DAVIS TRIBUTE COMPETITION GHANA was born.

Jazz Lovers were sitting by their radio sets in Ghana, whilst the rest of the international Jazz Community listened to the concert via the internet. Amongst those listening via internet were 2 Jazz luminaries who acted as Judges for the competition: A renowned Trumpeter from South Africa and a Dutch Music Producer. Inside the studio were 2 Jazz luminaries and Miles Davis enthusiasts that made up the additional 2 Judges from Ghana.

So even though the whole world came to a stand still due to lockdown, sitting indoors and social distancing, it was nonetheless connected by one thing- Love and Loyalty to Miles Davis and his music.

MILES DAVIS

Born Miles Dewey Davis III on May 26, 1926, he  was an American trumpeter, bandleader and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. In a career spanning nearly five decades, Davis was at the forefront of several major stylistic developments in jazz, including bebop, cool jazz, hard bop, third stream, modal jazz, avant-garde jazz, and jazz fusion. His legacy extends into electric, rock, funk, classical, and hip-hop.

Born into an upper class family in Alton, Illinois, and raised in East St. Louis, Davis started on the trumpet in his early teens. He left to study at Juilliard in New York City, before dropping out and making his professional debut as a member of saxophonist Charlie Parker’s bebop quintet from 1944 to 1948. Shortly afterwards, he recorded the Birth of the Cool sessions for Capitol Records, which were instrumental to the development of cool jazz. In the early 1950s, while addicted to heroin, Davis recorded some of the earliest hard bop music under Prestige Records. After a widely acclaimed comeback performance at the Newport Jazz Festival, he signed a long-term contract with Columbia Records, and recorded the album ‘Round About Midnight in 1955. It was his first work with saxophonist John Coltrane and bassist Paul Chambers, key members of the sextet he led into the early 1960s.

During this period, he alternated between orchestral jazz collaborations with arranger Gil Evans, such as the Spanish music–influenced Sketches of Spain (1960), and band recordings, such as Milestones (1958) and Kind of Blue (1959). The latter recording remains one of the most popular jazz albums of all time, having sold more than five million copies in the U.S.

The 1963- 1968 Era: was famously referred to as the the era of his 2^nd Great Quintet.Miles made several changes to this  quintet before ending up with 23 year old pianist, Herbie Hancock, 17 year old drummer Tony Williams, Bassist Ron Carter and  Saxophonist Fred Coleman. With this quintet Miles released Seven Steps to Heaven (1963) and recorded the live albums Miles Davis in Europe (1964), My Funny Valentine (1965) and Four & More (1966). The quintet played essentially the same bebop tunes and standards that Davis’s previous bands had played, but they approached them with structural and rhythmic freedom and occasionally breakneck speed. In 1964 Coleman was replaced briefly by Sam Rivers , who was replaced by Wayne Shorter. The quintet with Shorter lasted through 1968, with Shorter becoming the group’s principal composer. The album E.S.P. (1965) was named after his composition. While touring Europe, the group made its first album, Miles in Berlin (1965)

Miles Davis touched almost every genre known to man with Jazz influenced articulation. From Bebop, hardbop, modal Jazz, Classical music, Electric/ Funk, Pop, Hip-hop/ Rap, Miles music evolved with each generations taste and commercial appeal; something he was heavily criticised for. In the late 60s and 70s, he was notoriously criticised as a “sell out” by orthodox Jazz purists. This backlash ignited when he abandoned acoustic bebop to pioneer jazz-fusion, incorporating electric instruments, synthesizers, funk rhythms, and rock-and-roll elements to appeal to younger, broader audiences. Examples of these can be heard on albums like Bitches Brew (1970) and On the Corner (1972), where he incorporated rock rhythms, funk beats, electric guitars, multiple keyboards, and wah-wah pedals

In the early 1970s, he became heavily dependent on painkillers and cocaine to reduce the pain from a motor accident, also relying on alcohol, codeine and morphine to  help him get through his performance/ engagements. The latter resulted in him suffering ulcers and hernia and being hospitalised leading to a major hiatus away from music during 1975 – 1980

For his comeback in 1980, after a five year retirement, Miles Davis went for younger Musicians to join his band. In the 80s he gave us albums like The Man with the Horn (1980), We want Miles (1981), Tutu ( 1982),  Amandla (1986)

PERSONAL LIFE: His personal life was equally tumultuous, while his marriages were characterised by physical violence and domestic abuse of his spouses. He married 3 times and had several Lovers. One of his wives, Actress Cicely Tyson, whom he was married to from 1981-1989, was instrumental to helping Miles Davis’ rehabilitation and overcoming his substance abuse.

ASSOCIATIONS & LATTER YEARS: Miles Davis is noted for performances, features and affiliations with several notable Jazz greats that influenced the depth and quality of his music significantly – These include John Coltrane , Gil Evans, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Duke Ellington, Marcus Miller, Quincy Jones amongst others. The latter, Quincy Jones held a concert for him with an Orchestra Quincy Jones put together and conducted at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1991. Miles Davis still recovering from illness and substance abuse, showed signs of struggling to play his trumpet, but still managed to carry himself gracefully. Three months after this concert he passed away on September 28, 1991 at the age of 65 due to combined effects of a stroke, pneumonia and respiratory failure.

AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS

Since 1960, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) honored him with eight Grammy Awards, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and three Grammy Hall of Fame Awards; He also received 32 Grammy nominations.. Miles’ last albums Doo- Bop (1992) and Rubberband (2019) were released post- humously. The former was received unfavorably by most critics, although it won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance the following year, while the latter received mixed to positive reviews

The MILES DAVIS TRIBUTE COMPETITION GHANA of 2020 brought together young Musicians, many of whom were experiencing  their  first introduction to Jazz and Miles Davis’ music. While all the judges agreed that Miles’ music was complex, everyone had a feeling that  Miles’ spirit was inside the studio that day  because it was his birthday, This strong presence was felt particularly when the Musicians performed Milestones (1958) as their opening number. That year a Trombonist emerged Winner of Tribute Competition and the following year, a Trumpeter emerged Winner. The Tribute Competition has continued each year after, and with this year’s MILES DAVIS @ 100 , it will be commemorated with 2 weeks long Tribute running from May 26, 2026 – June 7, 2026.

( “Me & My Jazz” are the weekly musings of Jazz Singer & Jazz Radio Host, Yomi Sower- She is Founder/ Host of Maximum Jazz Radio Programme & Events. The Radio Programme currently airs on Saturdays 4-7PM on Ghana’s Guide Radio 91.5FM.She is a Professional Voice Coach also offering Vocal Jazz Tuition @YomiSower -Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X  and E- mail: [email protected])

Post Views: 2