Miles Davis: a centenary episode artwork

EPISODE · May 31, 2026 · 54 MIN

Miles Davis: a centenary

from The Music Show · host Australian Broadcasting Corporation

A portrait of the legendary trumpeter Miles Davis on his centenary. We hear how Miles not only changed music but also the lives of those he played with. We've pulled interviews from The Music Show's archives with former bandmates including pianists Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea, saxophonists Wayne Shorter and Gary Bartz, guitarist John McLaughlin, bassist Dave Holland as well as big fans of his music like Paul Grabowsky. We move from the Birth of the Cool to Kind of Blue, Nefertiti, Bitches Brew and, finally, to Aura.As a bonus, we'll also hear what it was like working with Miles Davis the actor. In the last ten years of his life he aspired to appear on screen— he only starred in one full-length film before his death in 1991, and that was Rolf de Heer's Dingo.More InformationArchive interviews featuredChick Corea (2007)Dave Holland (2007)Wayne Shorter (2016)John McLaughlin (2009)Gunther Schuller (1998)Paul Grabowsky (2019)Herbie Hancock (2007)Rolf de Heer (2020)Gary Bartz (2016)Music played in this programTitle: JoshuaArtist: Miles DavisComposer: Victor FeldmanAlbum: Seven Steps To HeavenLabel: CBS BP233072Title: Venus De MiloArtist: Miles DavisComposer: Gerry MulliganAlbum: Birth Of The CoolLabel: Capitol Records T-762Title: DeceptionArtist: Miles DavisComposer: Miles DavisAlbum: Birth Of The CoolLabel: Capitol Records T-762Title: So WhatArtist: Miles DavisComposer: Miles DavisAlbum: Kind Of BlueLabel: Coronet KLP893Title: Blue In GreenArtist: Miles DavisComposer: Miles DavisAlbum: Kind Of BlueLabel: Coronet KLP893Title: NefertitiArtist: Miles DavisComposer: Wayne ShorterAlbum: NefertitiLabel: CBS SBP 2335 15Title: E.S.P.Artist: Miles DavisComposer: Miles Davis, Wayne ShorterAlbum: E.S.P.Label: CBS SBP 233267Title: Pharaoh's DanceArtist: Miles DavisComposer: Joe ZawinulAlbum: Bitches BrewLabel: CBS S2BP-220056Title: Concert on the RunwayArtist: Miles Davis and Michel LegrandComposer: Miles Davis and Michel LegrandAlbum: Dingo: Selections From The Motion Picture SoundtrackLabel: Warner Bros. Records ‎- 9 26438-2Title: WhiteArtist: Miles DavisComposer: Palle MikkelborgAlbum: Aura Label: CBS 463351 1The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country CountryTechnical production by Harvey O'Sullivan, Emrys Cronin, Que Nguyen, Nathan Turnbull and Simon BranthwaiteLibrary archivist Sabrina Lipovic

A portrait of the legendary trumpeter Miles Davis on his centenary. We hear how Miles not only changed music but also the lives of those he played with. We've pulled interviews from The Music Show's archives with former bandmates including pianists Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea, saxophonists Wayne Shorter and Gary Bartz, guitarist John McLaughlin, bassist Dave Holland as well as big fans of his music like Paul Grabowsky. We move from the Birth of the Cool to Kind of Blue, Nefertiti, Bitches Brew and, finally, to Aura. As a bonus, we'll also hear what it was like working with Miles Davis the actor. In the last ten years of his life he aspired to appear on screen— he only starred in one full-length film before his death in 1991, and that was Rolf de Heer's Dingo. More Information Archive interviews featured Chick Corea (2007) Dave Holland (2007) Wayne Shorter (2016) John McLaughlin (2009) Gunther Schuller (1998) Paul Grabowsky (2019) Herbie Hancock (2007) Rolf de Heer (2020) Gary Bartz (2016) Music played in this program Title: Joshua Artist: Miles Davis Composer: Victor Feldman Album: Seven Steps To Heaven Label: CBS BP233072 Title: Venus De Milo Artist: Miles Davis Composer: Gerry Mulligan Album: Birth Of The Cool Label: Capitol Records T-762 Title: Deception Artist: Miles Davis Composer: Miles Davis Album: Birth Of The Cool Label: Capitol Records T-762 Title: So What Artist: Miles Davis Composer: Miles Davis Album: Kind Of Blue Label: Coronet KLP893 Title: Blue In Green Artist: Miles Davis Composer: Miles Davis Album: Kind Of Blue Label: Coronet KLP893 Title: Nefertiti Artist: Miles Davis Composer: Wayne Shorter Album: Nefertiti Label: CBS SBP 2335 15 Title: E.S.P. Artist: Miles Davis Composer: Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter Album: E.S.P. Label: CBS SBP 233267   Title: Pharaoh's Dance Artist: Miles Davis Composer: Joe Zawinul Album: Bitches Brew Label: CBS S2BP-220056 Title: Concert on the Runway Artist: Miles Davis and Michel Legrand Composer: Miles Davis and Michel Legrand Album: Dingo: Selections From The Motion Picture Soundtrack Label: Warner Bros. Records ‎- 9 26438-2 Title: White Artist: Miles Davis Composer: Palle Mikkelborg Album: Aura  Label: CBS 463351 1 The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country Country Technical production by Harvey O'Sullivan, Emrys Cronin, Que Nguyen, Nathan Turnbull and Simon Branthwaite Library archivist Sabrina Lipovic

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Miles Davis: a centenary

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This episode was published on May 31, 2026.

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A portrait of the legendary trumpeter Miles Davis on his centenary. We hear how Miles not only changed music but also the lives of those he played with. We've pulled interviews from The Music Show's archives with former bandmates including pianists...

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