Miles Davis
Trumpet Solo on
I Could Write a Book

About

Miles Davis's trumpet solo is the first of three solos on this recording. Spanning one chorus of the 32-bar ABAC form in E♭ at a vigorous 228 BPM with a swing feel, Davis opens with a single trumpet chorus of characteristic cool clarity, his economical phrasing and impeccable note placement demonstrating why he was considered the supreme melodist in jazz. All soloists on this recording ended their solo by repeating the last 4 bars of the form as many times as they wanted. Miles did it 3 times for 12 total extra bars.

Miles Davis was 29 to 30 years old at the time.