Dark Magus: The Jekyll and Hyde Life of Miles Davis

New
Hardcover
2006
$26.87

Dark Magus is a warts-and-all look at the real Miles Davis. As told by his son, this book strips away the public perception of Davis often concocted through other books written without such intimate access to the man and gets down to the realities of his personality and quirks. Despite being a jazz superstar for decades, Davis was reclusive and deeply distrustful of other people. Dark Magus details Davis's Jekyll-and-Hyde personality, including his prodigious drug use, his misogynistic attitude towards women, his self-centeredness and selfishness, his obsessive chasing of young women, his use of amphetamines during concerts, and his distressing tendency to use violence to get his way or exact revenge for slights real and imagined. Other fascinating details abound, including Davis's relationship with Charlie Parker, his obsession with sports (especially boxing), his likes and dislikes, his personal philosophies, and his often gruelling work with younger musicians.

Synopsis

Dark Magus is a warts-and-all look at the real Miles Davis. As told by his son, this book strips away the public perception of Davis often concocted through other books written without such intimate access to the man and gets down to the realities of his personality and quirks. Despite being a jazz superstar for decades, Davis was reclusive and deeply distrustful of other people. Dark Magus details Davis's Jekyll-and-Hyde personality, including his prodigious drug use, his misogynistic attitude towards women, his self-centeredness and selfishness, his obsessive chasing of young women, his use of amphetamines during concerts, and his distressing tendency to use violence to get his way or exact revenge for slights real and imagined. Other fascinating details abound, including Davis's relationship with Charlie Parker, his obsession with sports (especially boxing), his likes and dislikes, his personal philosophies, and his often gruelling work with younger musicians.

$26.87

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1 in stock

More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 176
Edition: illustrated edition
Publisher: Backbeat Books
Published: 30 Nov 2006
ISBN 10: 0879308753
ISBN 13: 9780879308759

Author Bio

Gregory Rahman Ali Davis is the oldest son of Jazz legend Miles Davis. He travelled with his father from the age of 12 and was exposed to many great musicians along the way. Today, Gregory is carrying on the legacy of his father. Besides performing with his own group, Gregory holds a Masters Degree in Psychotheraphy. Les Sussman is the author of one book on country music and two books on gospel music. He writes for the NY Daily News and other publications. Possessor of the happiest sound in jazz, flugelhornist Clark Terry always plays music that is exuberant, swinging, and fun. A brilliant (and very distinctive) soloist, C.T. gained fame for his Mumbles vocals (which started as a satire of the less intelligible ancient blues singers) and is also an enthusiastic educator. He gained early experience playing trumpet in the viable St. Louis jazz scene of the early '40s (where he was an inspiration for Miles Davis) and, after performing in a Navy band during World War II, he gained a strong reputation playing with the big band of Charlie Barnet (1947-1948), the orchestra and small groups of Count Basie (1948-1951), and particularly with Duke Ellington (1951-1959).