Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool is a bio-documentary of probably the greatest trumpeter of all time. The doco takes you through Miles’ life from start to finish, and doubles as a crash course in jazz and music history from the 1930s-80s. Don’t be swayed by the black-and-white screencaps on the SFF website; this doco is highly engaging.
The film doesn’t just cover the music of Miles Davis, it deals with his [numerous] loves, losses, struggles with alcohol and drug abuse, money, fame and of course, the developing music scene from the 40s right through until his death in 1991. Birth of the Cool also doesn’t explain the life of Miles Davis alone; the careers of Bird Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane and even Prince unfold alongside Miles’. The archival footage and photos from throughout Miles’ life are expertly interwoven with present-day interviews with some of the coolest cats in the jazz scene, including Quincy Jones. And with a soundtrack of pure jazz, how can you go wrong? As documentaries go, this one is stellar.
If you like music, you should see this film. If you love jazz, you should see this film. If you’re a musician, you need to see this film. If you’re a JAZZ musician, you MUST see this film. If you’re a Jazz trumpeter, why haven’t you bought your ticket yet? As a saxophonist in a Big Band myself, I didn’t expect to learn so much about jazz and music history from Birth of the Cool.
One screening has already sold out and another selling fast!
Kena