Doing justice to Miles Davis’s legacy is no small task. But Don Cheadle’s biopic and directorial debut Miles Ahead takes a creative and innovative approach to depicting the trumpeter’s life, focusing on a period in the late 70s when a reclusive Davis was not performing at all. The movie, now in theaters, was released on April 1st—the first day of Jazz Appreciation Month—and is connected to Jazz at Lincoln Center in a number of compelling ways.
From the beginning, Jazz at Lincoln Center encouraged the Indiegogo campaign that launched the project, which aims to “tell the story that Miles himself would have wanted to see, something hip, cool, alive and AHEAD.”
Once the project received the support it needed from fellow fans the world over, Cheadle set about becoming Miles.
“The trumpet is one of the meanest and hardest instruments that there is,” Cheadle, who played saxophone in high school, says. “The learning curve is very steep. I still practice every day.”
To play the character with a genuine connection to his art and craft, trumpet lessons were in order. Cheadle asked his friend, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s managing and artistic director Wynton Marsalis, for help.
“No one can question Wynton’s love for all things jazz,’’ Cheadle told The Daily Beast. “The two of us can talk all day about every aspect of the music and he amazes every time with everything he knows.”
Phil Schaap, another crucial figure in preserving jazz, also played a part in Miles Ahead. Since 1970 Mr. Schaap has been on Columbia University’s radio station WKCR-FM 89.9. A man with encyclopedic jazz knowledge, Phil became Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Curator in 2001 and was a beloved teacher of Swing University classes until his recent retirement.
As a nod toward his knowledge and based off actual events, Cheadle created a cameo for Schaap in Miles Ahead. He plays himself in the film, a radio DJ who Davis rebukes with an angry phone call.
The connections continue. Heralded by Marsalis as “the future of the trumpet,” Keyon Harrold overdubbed Cheadle’s playing for the Miles Ahead soundtrack. An electric performer, Harrold will curate The Iconic Miles Davis in Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola this May as part of the Miles Davis Festival in celebration of what would have been Davis’s 90th birthday. The free and live webcast is available to all for Sunday, May 15th, just tune-in at 7:30pm and 9:30pm EDT at jazz.org/live.
Cheadle’s commitment to jazz extends beyond Miles Ahead to the music and to encouraging future generations of jazz fans. In 2015 he attended Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington competition and festival, an annual three-day jazz education event in which high school bands compete and are immersed in workshops, jam sessions, rehearsals, and performances in our hall.
With Jazz Appreciation Month in full swing and Davis’s birthday approaching, there’s never been a better time to celebrate Davis’s music. Don Cheadle and his collaborators’ thoughtful engagement with Davis’s legacy gives us a great opportunity to reconsider the life of a legend.
April is Jazz Appreciation Month, so we thought we'd celebrate by delving into the careers of a handful of underappreciated jazz artists. Explore the careers of six musicians who deserve more accolades and learn the best places to start with their discographies.
Spring is finally here, which means a brand new menu (and the addition of bar menus!) at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola! Chef Brent Sims talks about his approach to cooking, how his cuisine relates to jazz, and the launch of bar offerings at Dizzy's.
Nobody in the history of jazz expressed himself more freely; or with more variety, swing, and sophistication than Duke Ellington. Listen to our playlist of essential Ellington recordings and find out how he changed jazz forever.
Find out who the three 2018 inductees into the Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame are! All three made an indelible impact on America's music and influenced millions in the process.
Here's a list of 10 more must-have classics for to round out your collection of jazz records.
Celebrate Thelonious Monk’s Centennial by getting to know the legend through his son’s memories.
Chick Corea is one of the most influential figures in jazz and one of the greatest living jazz pianists. In advance of his trio’s July 4 performance in Highland Park, IL, at the Ravinia Festival alongside the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, here are five essential albums from his discography.
Wynton Marsalis appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to perform with Jon Batiste, Stay Human, and acclaimed dancer Lil Buck. Check out video and behind-the-scenes content from their performance.
New to jazz and don't know where to start? With many artists and extensive catalogues of music, a new jazz listener can feel intimidated. We're here to help! Check out our list of 10 albums to get you started on your jazz journey and introduce yourself to some of jazz's great artists.
On December 7, 2014 the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra drove 8 hours on an off day to play for Clark Terry on his 94th birthday. Victor Goines, James Chirillo, Ted Nash, Vincent Gardner, and Walter Blanding recall the day and the impact that Clark had on jazz.
We sat down with Gerald Cannon ahead of his Memorial Day Weekend performances at Dizzy's.
Discover how growing up in the Bronx shaped Will Calhoun’s appreciation for art and how Elvin Jones inspired him to define his individuality.
Ornette Coleman led a life as fascinating as his music. Read up on some interesting facts about this jazz legend!
Before his passing in May, Joe Temperley spent 29 unforgettable years as the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra's baritone saxophonist and its beloved elder statesman. Between performances on their recent mini-tour of Canada, several JLCO members shared their memories of Temperley, who left behind an indelible legacy and a whole lot of stories.
April is Jazz Appreciation Month, so we thought we'd celebrate by delving into the careers of a handful of underappreciated jazz artists. Explore the careers of six musicians who deserve more accolades and learn the best places to start with their discographies.