Miles Davis's Career
1944-1948: The bebop years
In September 1944, Davis accepted his father's idea of studying at the Institute of Musical Arts, later known as the Juilliard School, in New York City. Davis passed his audition and attended classes in music theory, piano and dictation.
After finally locating his idol, Davis became one of the cadre of musicians who held nightly jam sessions at two Harlem nightclubs, Minton's Playhouse and Monroe's. The group included many of the future leaders of the bebop revolution such as Fats Navarro, Freddie Webster, and J. J. Johnson.
1957-1963: The lead-up to Kind of Blue
In March and April 1959, Davis recorded what many critics consider his greatest album, Kind of Blue (1959). Davis named the album to describe its overall mood. The musicians involved were:
- John Coltrane (ts)
- Cannonball Adderley (as)
- Bill Evans (p)
- Paul Chambers (b)
- Jimmy Cobb (d)
- Wyn Kelly (p)
Released in August 1959, Kind of Blue was an instant success, with widespread radio airplay and rave reviews from critics. It has remained a strong seller over the years.