Miles Davis

A biography of the noted jazz trumpeter who gained fame performing at the first Newport Jazz Festival in 1955

Gr. 9^-12. As a young student in 1944, Miles Davis headed from his family's Midwest home to the Juilliard School and dazzling New York, where, once he found his classes uninteresting, the legendary jazz trumpeter-to-be "began spending more and more time at the University of Bebop under the tutelage of professors Bird and Diz." Davis would go on to spectacular success, most notably in the fifties and sixties. None of this came without a price, however: Davis joined the list of jazz greats who succumbed to the drug scene, and Crisp spares few details about its horror and influence on musical genius. Several musical terms could be explained better, and the text suffers from some poor editing and proofreading. Drawn heavily from Davis' 1990 autobiography, many of the quotes feature graphic street language. Nevertheless, Crisp's narrative is informal, with a funky air, and young jazz enthusiasts will appreciate the story. Recommended for music collections where demand warrants. Black-and-white photos; discography; bibliography; source notes. Anne O'Malley