Jamey Aebersold Jazz, Volume 50: The Magic of Miles Davis: Book & Online Audio

This volume captures Miles Davis at a moment of artistic clarity, when his bands were defining modal jazz and cool jazz simultaneously. The repertoire spans territory that intermediate and advanced players need to know, and having Mark Levine's piano voicings transcribed gives pianists a rare window into how a master voice-leader approached these tunes.

Cool, introspective, and intellectually demanding. These arrangements honor the cerebral quality of Davis's best work from this period, where every note seems intentional and silence carries weight. The rhythm section grooves with restraint and sophistication rather than flash.

Intermediate and advanced jazz musicians across all instruments who want to build their understanding of essential Miles Davis repertoire and learn from the masters who played in his bands. Pianists benefit especially from the transcription of Mark Levine's playing, and all musicians gain insight into how professional ensembles voice harmonies and negotiate modal and bebop changes.

• Study the recorded solos before you take your own. Notice how each soloist approaches phrasing and space, especially on ballads like So What and Blue in Green where restraint speaks louder than speed.
• Lock into Todd Coolman's bass lines during the rhythm section section passages. The walking patterns anchor the harmonic conversation and show you where the soloist is thinking.
• Listen carefully to Mark Levine's comping choices. His chord voicings are economical but sophisticated; observe when he plays and when he rests to shape the solo space.
• Practice the melody statements with precision before venturing into improvisation. These tunes reward clarity and timing over virtuosity.

Use this as a capstone resource for students preparing for jazz ensemble auditions or leading sectional study in changes, reharmonization, and professional comping. The nine tunes span enough stylistic ground to function as a curriculum unit on modal jazz, bebop, and ballad playing.

• Improvising over modal (especially Dorian and pentatonic) and bebop changes
• Reading jazz chord symbols and understanding voice leading in reharmonized melodies
• Listening and responding to ensemble texture, especially how to comp behind and support soloists
• Interpreting swing feel and articulation across different tempos and harmonic contexts
• Understanding Miles Davis's compositional approach and influence across trumpet, piano, and horn writing