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Press Releases | |
May 7, 2001
WPBX To Air The Miles Davis Radio ProjectWeek-long Radio Event to Honor Jazz Trumpeter's 75th Birthday
Contact:
Patricia Conway
(631) 287 8313
Fax: (631) 283 4081The Miles Davis Radio Project, a Peabody Award-winning series of eight one-hour programs, will air on WPBX on Friday and Saturday, May 18 and 19 and continue on Monday, May 21 through Friday May 26 all starting at 10:00 p.m. This landmark in music documentary production is being re-released in honor of the trumpeter's 75th birthday celebration.
The Miles Davis Radio Project is perhaps the most detailed documentary ever produced on one musician. Hosted by actor Danny Glover, the programs feature interviews with nearly 100 musicians including Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Joni Mitchell, Roberta Flack and Quincy Jones.
Trumpeter Miles Davis made a career out of shifting gears and rousing his fans to not get too comfortable in their listening habits. Heeding the artist's call to stay fresh creatively, Davis reinvented himself several times over the course of his career. In 1949 he broke out of Charlie Parker's sphere to usher in the "cool jazz" movement with Gil Evans and during his later years he experimented in the rap-jazz zone. In between those two extremes Davis helmed two legendary quintets, plugged in with the first splashes of fusion and even pioneered a sampled sound that set the course for '90s styled hip-hop music. Even though Davis died in 1991, his work continues to impact the contemporary music world.
Regularly scheduled National Public Radio jazz specials will also celebrate the Miles Davis anniversary: Billy Taylor's Jazz at Kennedy Center; Jazz from Lincoln Center; Jazz Profiles with Nancy Wilson; Jazz Set with Branford Marsalis; and Piano Jazz with Marion McPartland.
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Show # 1 Miles Davis, The Early Years 1926-1946 serves as both an introduction to Davis' extraordinary career and also paints a picture of his youth in East St. Louis, Illinois. The show features a demonstration of 'Round Midnight performed by trumpeter Jon Faddis.
Show #2 New York to Paris and Back 1946-1955 explores Davis' move from Illinois to New York City to replace Dizzy Gillespie in the Charlie Parker Quintet at age nineteen. The program includes a rare and unreleased excerpt of John Coltrane's first recording.
Show #3 Miles Davis, Midnight Idol 1955-1959 explores Davis' rise to celebrity during the late 1950s, featuring demonstrations by saxophonist Andrew White, pianist George Duke and drummer Tony Williams.
Show #4 The 1960s are Electric, 1960-1969 explores another extraordinary Miles Davis/Gil Evans recording - Sketches of Spain and includes several never released outtakes from the session, featuring demonstrations from drummer Lenny White and pianist George Duke.
Show #5 Miles Davis, Retirement & Rebirth, The 70s & 80s looks further into Davis' influential electric bands and now classic recordings Bitches Brew, Jack Johnson, Big Fun, Get Up With It and others. It features demonstrations from trumpeter Olu Dara and guitar legend Carlos Santana.
Show #6 Behind the Scenes with Miles Davis is presented in three 20 minute segments.
Shows #7 & 8 Miles Davis Live a two hour music special containing unreleased live recordings from Davis' late 1980s bands.