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Loading... Miles (Picador Books) (original 1989; edition 1990)by Miles Davis
Work InformationMiles: The Autobiography by Miles Davis (1989)
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. A rich overview of - probably - the greatest innovator of music in the XX century. This is, to paraphrase Miles' writing stile "a hell of a moterfucking badass book. It's really something else". ( ) The definitive jazz biography. Miles writes with such a casual hipness - and frankness - that you're pretty much disarmed from the get-go. His attitude toward women is abysmal, and his prejudice against most white people, while perhaps justified, is disheartening. Still, you find yourself mesmerized by his life, his battles, his confidence, and his passion for jazz. A wounded, bitter artist, a fireplug, a gentle soul, a man lost in his music, an outspoken advocate for African Americans, and at the heart of it, a musical genius, pure and simple. This is truly a trip through jazz history, with Miles ensconced right in the heart of it all - taking you back as far as Satchmo and Diz, and right up to the mid-80's, when jazz was crying out for another Miles to step up and revive the art form. Miles Davis is known worldwide for musical genius expressed on his trumpet and through his musical groups. He was a figurehead in many countries for jazz, the quintessentially American cultural expression. In this autobiography, he teamed with Troupe to tell his story just before he died. With Troupe, he talked openly about his struggles with drugs, women, and racism. He spoke bluntly about the people who surrounded him and shared insight into the creative forces at work in his life. He honestly describes his struggles with drugs. Much of the book is repetitive concerning this hardship because this was the nature of Davis’ life. Unfortunately, drugs prevented him from reaching his full potential. When he overcame his addictions, he became more musically creative, and the book’s writing reflected this liveliness as well. Davis found comfort by pursuing painting towards the end of his life. This allowed him a place to work out his humanity besides his famed trumpet. Troupe does a good job of capturing Davis’ personality. Much of Davis’ language in this work is vulgar, but in the afterword, Troupe insists that this was natural to Davis’ expression in interviews. Davis spoke a lot about racism and double standards that American white people carry. I am saddened that he had to carry this burden throughout his life. Fans of jazz and music in general can benefit from understanding Davis’ voice in this autobiography. Also, readers can learn about the hardships of being a famous musician who is often on the road and without supportive social structures. The clearly negative effects of drugs on genius can also be observed. Engaged readers cannot help but wonder what he could have been (even moreso!) without the impediments of drugs. Miles Davis reinvented himself several times musically throughout his life. He also reinvented himself spiritually and in daily habits. All of that spoke to the nature of his immense genius. Overall, Troupe does a good job of capturing this. Davis’ language, which tends towards sounding cool rather than being direct, tends to obscure its potential impact. He overuses vulgar words that could be effectively replaced with clearer language. Troupe notes that Davis conveyed meaning through these words tonally as well, and this, of course, is hard to convey through the written word. Overall, Davis’ life represented a triumph of the creative human spirit, though I cannot help but wonder what more he could have contributed had drugs and racism not negatively encumber him. no reviews | add a review
AwardsDistinctionsNotable Lists
Biography & Autobiography.
Multi-Cultural.
Nonfiction.
HTML: Universally acclaimed as a musical genius, Miles Davis was one of the most important and influential musicians in the world. Here, Miles speaks out about his extraordinary life. Miles: The Autobiography, like Miles himself, holds nothing back. For the first time Miles talks about his five-year silence, he speaks frankly and openly about his drug problem and how he overcame it, he condemns the racism he encountered in the music business and in American society in general, and he discusses the women in his life. But above all, Miles talks about music and musicians, including the legends he has played with over the years: Bird, Dizzy, Monk, Trane, Mingus, and many others. .No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)788.92165092The arts Music Wind instruments Brass instruments TrumpetLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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