By Walter Price
Wait, stop growling, let me apolgize to Louis, Bird, Diz, Jelly Roll, Duke, Benny, Bix, Oliver, Count, Billie and all the rest of the jazz gods I looked over, but I'm sure somebody else will pick one of them as jazz man of the century or millennium. Picking Miles Davis is more of a jazz "world" or "community" pick instead of a "mainstream" choice. I think Miles will get a lot of recognition, but mediums like People Magazine, CNN, or newspapers will go for the Armstrongs and Ellingtons.
I thought I get my pick in early before the power goes out and everybody will be wondering over their potted meat and bottled water who is Walter going to pick. Now instead of writing about all the mundane legitimate reasons or arguments to pick Miles, I rather cite some slightly unorthodox reasons why Miles is "The Greatest of Them All." Here are the reasons why my choice is correct and every other person is wrong!
- Coolest icon of any jazz musician this century. (That silhouette of his stance is so identifiable in the jazz world and it's hip!)
- Greatest interviews of any jazz musician. (The only guy with enough "nads" to answer all questions honestly with replies like "I know it", "I don't give a damn about . . .", and can have enough silence to scare the crap out of every interviewer including the late Harry Reasoner on 60 Minutes)
- Best dressed for over 5 decades! (Who else would dare wear a green shirt on an album cover!)
- Probaly could knockout Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington or Peter McNeeley in a 3 round boxing match. (Although Red Garland would just womp on him!)
- Best voice by far and maybe the most imitated of any jazz musician. (I was waiting for Cicely Tyson to say in the "Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman", " I lived a hard life in all my years, but I still sound better than Eric Dolphy!"
- Louis Armstrong would never name one of his albums- Bitches Brew (Nor would his stepchild-Wynton Marsalis!)
- Top wah-wah trumpet player of all time!
- Every year since his death in 1991 a Miles movie has been in the works!
- Best Jazz musician in a commercial or on a television program. (So he appeared on Miami Vice, at least he was the only jazz musician NOT to appear on The Cosby Show nor did he advertise laxatives like Pops Armstrong)
- Of all the jazz gods to pick-he is by far ... the coolest!!
So there! If these reasons are not good enough then hey, you know your jazz better than me.
Agree? Disagree? Send your feedback to Walter Price.
