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Miles Davis Influence

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Miles Davis is an American trumpeter that had a large influence on jazz music. Jazz is an American style of music starting in New Orleans during the 20th century that is characterized by improvisation, syncopation, and usually a regular or forceful rhythm. We asked Davis what it was like growing up in the time where inequality was still effecting society, “It was very hard time to live in. A lot of colored people felt like they didn’t belong anywhere. That is why Jazz music emerged. It was a place for us to express what it was personally like for them” he then went on later to add, “Jazz is all about putting your own personal spin on the music. Everyone is playing what is especially the same theme but it’s about finding your own style and letting it become about you.” …show more content…

A certain song of this album has stood out among the rest and that is the opening song “So What”. The piece begins with a simple rhythmic piano line and later adds bass and set to help accompany the upcoming soloist. So What is very easy to listen to as it has no complex rhythms or harsh sounding melodies. After the rhythm is set up by the piano, bass, and set, the first soloist begins to play. Miles Davis begins with the first improv solo on trumpet creating a minimalistic melody. After a few minutes of Davis serenading us, the saxophone soloist comes in playing a similar theme that Davis established. Davis stated in the interview that Jazz is special because everyone plays the same general theme but adds their own personal spin. The piece is in AABA form which is very typical of jazz music at the time. This form allows for a lot of repetition needed by the soloist so that they know what to expect. Along with the form, the texture for the piece is also in favor of the soloist. The rhythm section stays in the background softly to keep a steady beat and to allow to improv soloists to

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