Textbooks

Miles Beyond - The Electric Explorations of Miles Davis 1967-1991, Paul Tingen, Billboard Books, ISBN 0-8230-8346-2.
It’s About That Time, Miles Davis On and Off Record, Richard Cook, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-532266-5.

Supplemental Texts

Miles The Autobiography, Miles Davis with Quincy Troupe, A Touchstone Book, published by Simon & Schuster ISBN 0-671-72582-3.
So What, The Life of Miles Davis, John Szwed, Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, ISBN 978-0-684-85983-5.
Miles Ornette Cecil Jazz Beyond Jazz, Howard Mandel, Routledge Press, ISBN 0-415-96714-7.
Running the Voodoo Down – The Electric Music of Miles Davis, Philip Freeman, Backbeat Books, ISBN 0-87930-828-1

The goal of this course is to carefully examine the artistic body of Miles Davis’ Electric Music (1967-1991). This course will also delve into the influences and impetus that fueled his daring move from acoustic Jazz to electric music. In addition, the class will examine Mr. Davis’ complex and challenging relationship with the music industry as his art moved through periods of multidimensional growth and evolutionary development. Much detail will be given to his use of Contemporary Jazz, Funk, R &B, Southern and West African, Rock, Brazilian, European Avant-Garde, Cuban, Indian, Flamenco and Ambient Music.

The course will examine the way in which Mr. Davis’ innovative direction and leadership produced the most important musicians of the next generation, particularly between 1967 and 1975 and will study the body of music, inspired by Mr. Davis, that was subsequently produced by his sideman. The course will also assess the way in which Davis’ works have influenced current musical trends.

A ten page, double-spaced paper will be due by the end of the eighth week and a fifteen page, double-spaced paper will be due by the tenth week. The papers will be included as 30% of the final grade. The subject of the ten-page paper should be one of Davis’ sidemen during the years 1967 to 1991. The paper should cover the artist’s influences, primary career contributions, contributions to the Davis body of work and impact on the direction of jazz.  A full bibliography must be included in the paper. The artist chosen as the subject of the paper should be derived from the listening list; however, if the student chooses an artist outside of the list the Professor must pre-approve. The fifteen-page paper should cover one of the three following periods of Miles Davis’ work: In a Silent Way, Bitches Brew and Jack Johnson; 1972 to 1975 (On the Corner and other intersections between street rhythms and abstraction); Miles Davis and the Marcus Miller produced collaborations (Tutu, Siesta and Amandla);

Final Grade:

30% Papers
35% Midterm examination
35% Final examination

*The grading system will use pluses and minuses.