‘Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool’ Offers Stunning Look at the Jazz Legend (FILM REVIEW)

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Nobody has ever been as cool as Miles Davis. The jazz pioneer was the epitome of the cool tones of jazz and has even today, almost 30 years after his death, set the standard for the styles and standards of modern jazz. He was a master, a composer on par with anyone throughout the history of music. Beethoven. Mozart. Davis.

That’s not even hyperbole. Over the course of his career he almost single handedly changed the direction of jazz and the course of American music in the latter half of the 20th century. Birth of the Cool alone was a bigger masterwork than most masters could ever dream. Add to that Porgy and Bess, Kind of Blue, Sketches of Spain, Bitches Brew, and, well, every other work he ever released, and the weight of his genius becomes astounding.

He was a man who pushed boundaries, not just musically but in life. He sought to break free from the expectations put on him by the society into which he was born. He sought freedom and expression, both of which he found in the world of jazz, a world he changed forever.

A new film, Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool, from director Stanley Nelson, explores the impact of Davis on the world of music as well as the life that led him down the path he walked. It is a stunning work of musical documentary that serves as a wonderful love letter to a man who changed the world.

Featuring footage and photographs of Davis, Birth of the Cool offers a veritable treasure trove for fans of Davis to dive into and revel over. The depth of Nelson’s research here gives us a wide span of biographical and professional information that brings the spirit of Davis to life in magical ways. It’s backed by insightful interviews with people from his inner circle, including ex-wife Betty Davis (nee Mabry), as well as scholars and musicians—including Flea, Carlos Santana, and Herbie Hancock, just to name a few—who discuss the life and impact of Davis.

Alternating between moving and hilarious, Nelson paints a vivid portrait of a man who refused to be defined by his demons and who, above all else, loved music. The film spans decades, taking us from his youth in East St. Louis to New York in the 40s to Paris back to New York. What we find is a man whose complications melted away with the spirit of music. His hurt, his sadness, his joy, his vivacity all came to life through the sound of his horn.

While Davis doesn’t exactly need a renaissance or rediscovery, Nelson does a remarkable job at keeping the music and the man alive for a new generation and beyond. It also features an amazing, career spanning soundtrack that serves as more than just a mere best of, it encapsulates the very spirit of Davis in all his moods, all his movements, and all his glory. Jazz fans need look no farther to find a remarkable reminder of who and what Davis was. Not that you could ever forget.

Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool is now playing in select theaters.

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