Miles Davis
Trumpet Solo on
Milestones

About

Miles Davis opens the solo section on trumpet, stretching out for one chorus at approximately 161 BPM. Set within a swinging rhythmic framework, the 32-bar AABA form and the key of B♭, the solo navigates the chord changes with purpose. As the first voice heard after the head, Davis sets the improvisational tone before passing to John Lewis. This is not to be confused with Davis's later and more famous modal composition of the same name from 1958. The moderate pace allows the soloist to develop ideas with both rhythmic variety and melodic breadth.

Miles Davis was 20 to 21 years old at the time.