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Tuesday, February 25 will see the U.S. broadcast premiere of director Stanley Nelson's acclaimed film Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool, theatrically released last year. The Grammy-nominated Best Music Film chronicled the late Davis' life and art via previously unseen footage and new interviews with the likes of Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Carlos Santana, Clive Davis, Wayne Shorter and Ron Carter. Four days before the broadcast premiere, on February 21, Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings will issue the film's original soundtrack on CD and digital formats.
Three-time Emmy Award winner Nelson has curated the soundtrack, blending classic Davis recordings from all eras with soundbites from the documentary. Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool is the rare release to span his multiple label affiliations. In addition to culling tracks from his famed Columbia repertoire including Milestones, Kind of Blue, Someday My Prince Will Come, Sketches of Spain, and Bitches Brew, the soundtrack features such landmark cuts as the 1947 Savoy master "Donna Lee" with Charlie Parker, "Moon Dreams" from the 1949 Capitol sessions that were collected on the original album Birth of the Cool, "Generique" from the 1958 Fontana soundtrack to Louis Malle's Elevator to the Gallows, and 1986's "Tutu" from the Warner Bros. album of the same name.
The soundtrack culminates in the premiere of a brand-new song, "Hail to the Real Chief." The new track features unreleased studio trumpet performances from Davis combined with music written by Lenny White, produced by White and Vince Wilburn, Jr. and featuring an A-list of Miles band alumni and friends including White, Wilburn, Marcus Miller, Emilio Modeste, Jeremy Pelt, Antoine Roney, John Scofield, Bernard Wright, and Quinton Zoto.
"I remember stealing my father's copy of 'Kind of Blue' to take with me to college," commented Stanley Nelson in the press release. I've been fascinated with Miles since then and have long dreamed of telling his story. He was to me a singular force of nature; the very embodiment of cool. This film is very special to me and curating the soundtrack gave me a chance to delve even deeper into his archive so that both diehard fans and his new listeners could discover something new."
Look for Music From and Inspired by "Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool," a film by Stanley Nelson on February 21 from Columbia/Legacy. You'll find the track listing and pre-order links below!
Miles Davis, Music From and Inspired by "Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool," a Film by Stanley Nelson (Columbia/Legacy, 2020) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
- Commentary: Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Heath
- Milestones (1958)
- Commentary: Greg Tate
- Donna Lee (Charlie Parker with Miles Davis) (1947)
- Commentary: Ashley Kahn, Symphony Sid Introduction
- Moon Dreams (1949)
- Commentary: George Wein
- 'Round Midnight (1957)
- Commentary: Carlos Santana
- It Never Entered My Mind (1959)
- Commentary: Vincent Bessieres
- Generique (1958)
- Commentary: Jimmy Cobb
- So What (1959)
- Commentary: Gil Evans
- New Rhumba (1957)
- Commentary: Frances Taylor Davis
- The Pan Piper (Alborada de Vigo) (1960)
- Commentary: Jack Chambers
- Someday My Prince Will Come (1961)
- Commentary: Wayne Shorter
- Footprints (1967)
- Commentary: Carlos Santana, Quincy Troupe
- Miles Runs The Voodoo Down (45RPM Single Edit) (1970)
- Commentary: Marcus Miller
- Tutu (1986)
- Commentary: Erin Davis
- Hail To The Real Chief (Brand New Recording featuring unreleased Miles Davis performances; Produced by Lenny White & Vince Wilburn, Jr.)
Track 2 from Milestones, Columbia LP CL 1193, 1958
Track 4 from Savoy 928, 1947
Track 6 rec. 1949, from Classics in Jazz, Capitol EAP 1-459, 1954, later collected on Birth of the Cool, Capitol LP T-762, 1957
Track 8 from 'Round About Midnight, Columbia LP CL 949, 1957
Track 10 rec. 1956, from Workin' with the Miles Davis Quintet, Prestige LP 7166, 1959
Track 12 from Ascenseur Pour L'échafaud, Fontana (France) LP 660.213 MR, 1958
Track 14 from Kind of Blue, Columbia LP CS 8163, 1959
Track 16 from Miles Ahead, Columbia LP CL 1041, 1957
Track 18 from Sketches of Spain, Columbia LP CS 8271, 1960
Track 20 from Someday My Prince Will Come, Columbia LP CS 8456, 1961
Track 22 from Miles Smiles, Columbia LP CS 9401, 1967
Track 24 from Columbia single 4-45171, 1970
Track 26 from Tutu, Warner Bros. LP 9 25490-1/2, 1986
Track 28 previously unreleased
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Reference here to “Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool,” a film by Stanley Jordan though later the Amazon, etc., links refer to the film being "by Stanley Nelson...
The broadcast date is given as February 25 but could you please indicate where this may be found?
Thanks!
Hi Jake, the February 25 date comes directly from the press release but individual PBS stations may be airing it at a different time. Please check your local listings for more information.
hi Joe,
Thanks for seamlessly correcting the reference to the film's creator and, indeed, pointing out that the film will appear via PBS. Keep up the great work at The Second Disc - the aurhoritative site for news about the music we love!
Best,
Jake