Miles Davis
Trumpet Solo on
Ornithology

About

Miles Davis's trumpet solo is the second of three improvisations on this recording, following Parker's alto saxophone. Taking one chorus of the 32-bar ABAB' form in G at 224 BPM, Davis navigates Parker's contrafact on the chord changes of "How High the Moon" with the spare, thoughtful approach that was already becoming his signature. His one-chorus solo stands in purposeful contrast to Parker's more elaborate constructions, hinting at the distinctive direction his playing would take in the years ahead.

Miles Davis was 19 to 20 years old at the time.