Miles Davis citations

Miles Dewey Davis III [maɪlz ˈdjuːi ˈdeɪvɪs ðə θɝd], né le 26 mai 1926 à Alton et mort le 28 septembre 1991 à Santa Monica , est un compositeur et trompettiste de jazz américain.

Miles Davis commence à jouer de la trompette à l'âge de treize ans. Il fut à la pointe de beaucoup d'évolutions dans le jazz et s'est particulièrement distingué par sa capacité à découvrir et à s'entourer de nouveaux talents. Son jeu se caractérise par une grande sensibilité musicale et par la fragilité qu'il arrive à donner au son. Il marque l'histoire du jazz et de la musique du XXe siècle. Beaucoup de grands noms du jazz des années 1940 à 1980 travaillent avec lui.

Les différentes formations de Miles Davis sont comme des laboratoires au sein desquels se sont révélés les talents de nouvelles générations et les nouveaux horizons de la musique moderne ; notamment Sonny Rollins, Julian « Cannonball » Adderley, Bill Evans et John Coltrane durant les années 1950. De 1960 aux années 1980 ses sidemen se nomment Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, George Coleman, Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Keith Jarrett, Tony Williams, Joe Zawinul, Dave Liebman et Kenny Garrett ; c'est avec eux qu'il s'oriente vers le jazz fusion, dont il reste l'un des pionniers. La découverte de la musique de Jimi Hendrix est déterminante dans cette évolution, mais surtout le choc du festival de Newport, en 1969, où l'on assiste à l'origine exclusivement à des concerts de jazz, mais qui, cette année-là, programme du rock. Nombre de musiciens qui passent par ses formations de 1963 à 1969 forment ensuite les groupes emblématiques du jazz fusion, notamment Weather Report, animé par Wayne Shorter et Joe Zawinul, Mahavishnu Orchestra de John McLaughlin, Return to Forever de Chick Corea, ainsi que les différents groupes de Herbie Hancock.

Miles Davis est un des rares jazzmen et l'un des premiers musiciens noirs à être connu et accepté par l'Amérique moyenne, remportant même le « trophée de l'homme le mieux habillé de l'année » du mensuel GQ pendant les années 1960. Comme Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis est ce phénomène curieux : une superstar du jazz. À la différence de son glorieux aîné qui avait recherché l'intégration à la culture grand public dominée par la population blanche, le parcours musical de Miles Davis s'accompagne d'une prise de position politique en faveur de la cause noire et de sa lutte contre le racisme. En 1985, il participe à l'album Sun City contre l'apartheid à l'initiative de Steven Van Zandt.

En France, c'est l'enregistrement de la musique du film Ascenseur pour l'échafaud de Louis Malle qui le rend célèbre. Son dernier album, Doo-bop, publié en 1992 après sa mort, laisse éclater des influences rap. Wikipedia  

✵ 26. mai 1926 – 28. septembre 1991
Miles Davis photo
Miles Davis: 30   citations 0   J'aime

Miles Davis: Citations en anglais

“He plays like somebody is standing on his foot.”

Alternative: He plays like somebody was standing on his foot.
In Down Beat "Blindfold Test" with Leonard Feather (13 June 1964); also in
On Eric Dolphy
1960s

“If somebody told me I only had an hour to live, I'd spend it choking a white man. I'd do it nice and slow.”

During an interview, after growing aggravated about questions on the subject of race.
1980s
Source: Jet (25 March 1985)

“Miles said he looked on his need for constant change as a curse. However, Miles, along with Duke Ellington, in terms of looking for models of how you strategize with a band, have been there constantly in the background for me. Not the Beatles as a construct for a group, not Led Zeppelin, not the Floyd. My guides have always been Miles and Duke.”

Robert Fripp, on how Miles Davis influenced his leadership in King Crimson.
As quoted in a Rolling Stone interview "The Crimson King Seeks a New Court" by Hank Shteamer (15 April 2019) https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/robert-fripp-interview-king-crimson-tour-david-bowie-kanye-west-820783/.
Quotes by others

“Don't play what's there, play what's not there.”

In SPIN (December 1990). p. 30, and in many other sources https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&hl=en&q=%22play+anything+on+a+horn%22+miles+davis#hl=en&q=%22don%27t+play+what%27s+there%22+not+davis&tbm=bks, but I can't find the original one.
1990s

“For me, music and life are all about style.”

Miles, the Autobiography (1989) (co-written with Quincy Troupe, p. 398.)
1980s

“Is that what you wanted, Alfred?”

Quoted in: Jazz Journal International, (1983), p. 12.
Miles Davis asking Blue Note records producer Alfred Lion's approval of a recorded performance in Rudy Van Gelder's studio. Miles' gravelly-voice question was accidentally recorded, but included at the end of "One For Daddy-O" on the Cannonball Adderley recording "Somethin' Else": a famous recorded peek into the recording studio process.
1980s

“He could very well be the Duke Ellington of Rock 'n' Roll.”

In [A Change is Gonna Come: Music, Race & the Soul of America, Craig Hansen, Werner, University of Michigan Press, 2006, 9780472031474, 53] as: he can be the Duke Ellington of our times.
And in [Miles on Miles: Interviews and Encounters with Miles Davis, Musicians in Their Own Words Series, Paul Maher, Michael K. Dorr, Chicago Review Press, 2009, 9781556527067, 262] as: Do you know who Prince kinda reminds me of, particularly as a piano player? Duke! Yeah, he's the Duke Ellington of the eighties to my way of thinking.
On Prince
2000s

“My ego only needs a good rhythm section.”

In [Milestones: The music and times of Miles Davis since 1960, Jack, Chambers, Beech Tree Books, 1983, 9780688046460, 261]
"My ego only needs a good rhythm section" is also the title of an interview/article by Stephen Davis for The Real Paper (21 March 1973)
On being asked what he looked for in musicians.
1970s

“A legend is an old man with a cane known for what he used to do. I'm still doing it.”

On being called a legend.
Quoted in International Herald Tribune (17 July 1991); also in: [The Yale Book of Quotations, Fred R., Shapiro, Yale University Press, 2006, 9780300107982, 189]
1990s

“I’ll play it and tell you what it is later.”

In [So What: The Life of Miles Davis, John, Szwed, Random House, 2012, 9781448106462], and in many other books https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&hl=en&q=%22play+anything+on+a+horn%22+miles+davis#hl=en&q=%22+and+tell+you+what+it+is+later.+%22+miles+davis&tbm=bks
Sometimes rendered as: I'll play it first and tell you what it is later.
During a recording session for Prestige, on the album "Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet" (1956).
1950s

“I've changed music four or five times. What have you done of any importance other than be white?”

Miles, the Autobiography (1989) (co-written with Quincy Troupe, p. 371.)
At a White House reception in honor of Ray Charles 1987, this was his reply to a society lady seated next to him who had asked what he had done to be invited.
1980s

“I love Pops, I love the way he sings, the way he plays - everything he does, except when he says something against modern-jazz music.”

In Playboy to Alex Haley (1962); also in [Milestones: The music and times of Miles Davis since 1960, Jack, Chambers, Beech Tree Books, 1983, 9780688046460, 209], [The Playboy Interviews, Alex, Haley, Murray, Fisher, Ballantine, 1993, 9780345383006, 15], [The Miles Davis companion: four decades of commentary, Gary, Carner, Gary, Carner, Schirmer Books, 1996, 9780028646121, 19], and in [Miles Davis and American Culture, Missouri Historical Society Press Series, Gerald Lyn, Early, Missouri History Museum, 2001, 9781883982386, 205]
1960s

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