Both jazz fans and those less familiar with the jazz legend will find much to like in Stanley Nelson’s fascinating, well-made introduction to Miles Davis, particularly the abundant use of Davis’ music and the evocative black-and-white photos. If you are not already a fan of Miles Davis’ music, the documentary MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF THE COOL may change that.
We all know the popular image of Miles Davis, the angry man who would not compromise his music, but this thoughtful documentary goes well beyond that simplified image, peeling back layers of a gifted, complicated, flawed person devoted to music. Both jazz fans and those less familiar with the jazz legend will find much to like in this fascinating, well-made introduction to Miles Davis.
The documentary generally follows Davis’ career and life chronologically. It covers pivotal aspects of his personal life and adds historical context of the times but there is a strong emphasis on his music. The documentary spotlights his remarkable genius and his innovative impact on jazz, making it the height of cool and taking it to a wider popularity, but it also offers an honest portrait of a talented complicated, flawed man who lived for his music.
Miles Davis’ own words are a focus, read by actor Carl Lumbly in a gravelly voice that evokes Miles’ own. This well-made documentary is also filled with his Davis’ music and lots of gorgeous black-and-white stills and film footage that captures the man and his era in an immersive and enjoyable fashion.
Jazz is complicated, often difficult music, much admired by classically-trained musicians but sometimes difficult for other ears. Miles Davis’ particular genius was in transforming jazz with groundbreaking innovations while simultaneously making it into a wildly popular with a wider audience, an astonishing feat that this documentay explores skillfully.
Local connections abound in this documentary. Davis was born in Alorton, Illinois, and grew up in East St. Louis, the son of the second-wealthiest man in Illinois, a rare thing for a black man in early twentieth century America. The local debut of this film on Sept. 6 at the Tivoli theater was attended by members of Miles Davis’ family and the filmmakers.
Despite his father’s wealth, this was also a time of Jim Crow and open racism, and Davis’ childhood was also marred by his parents’ contentious relationship and his father’s abuse of his mother. Davis was a dreamy, odd child who was always enamored with music but his parents battled over his musical direction. His father insisted he learn trumpet rather than violin, but his mother saw to it that he attended Julliard. While studying at Julliard, Davis played in bands in Harlem, and haunted clubs searching for his musical idols.
His studies at Julliard were complicated when his high school sweetheart showed up, with his child in tow and another on the way. The demands on him were enormous, but he focused on music and his family suffered. By the end of the ’40s, at Julliard, he was working with his another musician on something called Birth of the Cool, a melding of jazz and classical. That work took him to Paris. Bebop was the jazz at the time, complicated brainy music and post-WWII Europe was particularly open to this new jazz. Miles Davis loved Paris, where he met French singer Juliette Greco and fell in love. She introduced him to French intellectuals and artists including Satre and Picasso, who treated him as an equal and who considered jazz the height of art. those experiences helped Davis realize not all white people were prejudiced, which had been his experience in America.
Coming back from France, was a hard adjustment, He lost his focus and developed a heroin habit living in NY. His father came to get him and take him back to East St. Louis. Eventually, he returned to music and beat the habit but addiction continued to haunt him at time throughout his life.
The documentary is affectionate and sympathetic but honest about Miles’ flaws and mistakes, his drug used and failed marriages. All the same, the major focus is, as it should be, on his music. There are interviews with several musician who worked with Miles dotted throughout the documentary, as well as commentary from musical experts and academics. Some of the best insights come from musicologist Tammy Kernodle. Among the interviewees are also Washington University professor Gerald Early.
Davis recognized early on that his classical-training gave him an edge over many other popular musicians, and he made use of that fully. A few albums get a special spotlight, particularly the groundbreaking “Kind of Blue,” which shot Davis to fame as well as bringing jazz new fans and a wider popularity. Samples of the music illustrate why in enjoyable fashion. The documentary also delves into Miles’ unique improvisational style, the creative freedom he gave his band members, and his generosity in mentoring other musicians, particularly John Coltrane.
This is a wonderful, insightful introduction to the man and his music, both complicated but worthwhile subjects. The film. MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF THE COOL opens Friday, Sept. 6, at the Tivoli Theater.
RATING: 4 out of 4 stars
