Miles Davis: The Definitive Biography

The acclaimed classic biography, fully revised, becomes the definitive.The revised edition of Ian Carrs classic biography of Miles Davis throws new light on his life and career from the early days in New York, with Charlie Parker, to his Birth of the Cool band, through his drug addiction in the early 1950s, and the years of extraordinary achievements, 1954-1960, during which he created a whole series of masterpieces on record, and drew to his band such unequalled talents as John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Wynton Kelly and Cannonball Adderly.Carr also gives a detailed description of Miless dark reclusive period, 1975-1980, and his descent towards disintegration. He also tells how the events of one single day forced Davis to turn back to life and return slowly to music.The incessant activity of his last ten years the music-making, his painting and art exhibitions, his extraordinary trumpet playing, his marriage to and divorce from Cicely Tyson is recounted with fascinating insight. Miles Davis, whose work has been called one of the greatest musical legacies of the twentieth century, remained controversial until the end, and this definitive biography examines the controversy from all sides.With access to the inner circle of Daviss friends and associates, Ian Carr includes new interviews with such jazz greats as Max Roach, George Russell, George Avakian, Ron Carter, John Carisi, John Scofield, Bill Evans and Jack and Lydia DeJohnette, and revisits those who contributed to the first edition, including Keith Jarrett, Dave Holland, Joe Zawinul and Paul Buckmaster. This new, revised edition is an essential source for those who want to understand Miles, his music and the jazz life.

Ian Carr was born in Scotland, brought up in the north of England and educated at Kings College, Newcastle upon Tyne. He became a professional musician, playing trumpet, flugel horn and keyboards, and has made numerous recordings. He has made many broadcasts for jazz programmes for BBC Radio 3 and has written for the BBC Music Magazine since its inception in 1992. Ian Carr is the author of Music Outside (1973) and Keith Jarrett, the Man and his Music (1991).