The 20th century produced only a handful of musicians who could be called geniuses – people who would have achieved timeless fame no matter when they were born. Miles Davis is one of those individuals. He primarily played the trumpet, though he was an accomplished multi-instrumentalist. His signature style was minimalist and improvisational.
Those closest to him described a shy person who used anger and arrogance as a shield to keep others away. Likewise, his addictive personality – he battled drugs and alcohol for virtually his entire adult life – made his creative achievements all the more remarkable. Miles died younger than he might have were it not for those self-destructive tendencies, but not before creating dozens of the most important jazz albums in the history of the genre.
This book explores Davis' fascinating life.
