Birth of the Cool Live - Miles Davis Centenary Tribute

Nine of Devon’s finest musicians present an evening of jazz heritage. This band has been put together by Exeter-based saxophonist Will Paley, who writes:

“Birth of the Cool: Live. Join us on Sunday 21st June to hear this seminal and rarely performed music, originally recorded by trumpeter Miles Davis and his jazz nonet, in the 100th year since his birth.

Birth of the Cool is a compilation album of music recorded in the formative part of Davis's career, which for many represents a watershed moment in post-war music and in the history of jazz. This is now known as The Birth of the Cool, with the music that this historic nine piece group created in 1949 and 1950. The group included a number of future jazz heavyweights, including: Gerry Mulligan, Lee Konitz, Max Roach, John Lewis, the arranger Gil Evans, and of course band leader, Miles Davis.

Unlike a big band or a small jazz group, the unconventional line up of instruments - saxophones, trumpet, french horn/flugel, trombone, tuba, and rhythm section - is specifically selected for the warmth of their voices and the depth of timbre that they create together. This music, celebrated as part of a one-off gig at Ashburton Arts Centre, is truly unique, combining bebop with classical techniques, polyphony, and the voices of a rich ensemble. Today these tunes sound as fresh as ever and this gig is a rare opportunity to hear this music live.

For this performance, arrangements have been carefully collated for the Devon-based nonet by musical director, Tom Harker, with later collaborations between Miles Davis and Gil Evans also being showcased in adaptations from the albums Porgy & Bess and Miles Ahead. Listeners can expect to hear further exploration of the jazz nonet repertoire in a contrasting context, with additional arrangements by Steve Fishwick, McCoy Tyner, and Abdullah Ibrahim, dotted throughout the sets.”

Musicians: Alto Sax, Neil Maya Baritone Sax, Will Paley Trumpet/Flugel, Tom Harker Trumpet/Flugel, Rob O’Neale Trombone, Tom Breeze Tuba, Matthew Hawkins Piano, Tom Ball Bass, John Donnelley Drums, Gary Evans