Miles Davis
Trumpet Solo on
Four

About

Miles Davis's trumpet solo is the first of three solos on this recording. Spanning three choruses of the 32-bar ABAC form in E♭ at a driving 208 BPM with a swing feel, Davis opens with three choruses of trumpet, his clean, precise lines and masterful use of space demonstrating the less-is-more philosophy that set him apart from technically busier players. Davis's technical command is evident throughout, maintaining clarity of articulation and melodic invention at this demanding tempo. The composition's ABAC structure gives soloists a familiar but not overly predictable harmonic roadmap, and all three improvisers navigate it with individual distinction.

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