THE MILES DAVIS STORY

The Miles Davis Story spans the entire life and career of one of the greatest band leaders of all time. From his formative years, through to his collaborations with composers Gil Evans and Teo Macero, the virtuosity of his two great quintets in the late 50s through the mid 60s, the unpredictability of his late 60s/early 70s electric groups, to his final flashes of success in the 80s and 90s, we witness the growth of Miles and get a glimpse into the life and mindset of a progressive musician.

There are plenty of entertaining anecdotes shared by those who were close to Miles. Some of my favorites include those told by fellow trumpeter Clarke Terry as well as tales from Frances, who was Davis' first wife. The material is presented in rough chronological order, so while a few events are slightly out of sync, the presentation of these events go together rather fluently. A significant amount of concert footage from the 50s to the 90s is included, which even only in snippets remain highly entertaining.

While the DVD features several former collaborators and band members of Miles, there are a few notable faces (Wayne Shorter, ex-wife Cicely Tyson) that are absent from this production. It would have been great to hear their sides of the story, but at approximately 2 hours running time, this biography is long enough as it is.

The Miles Davis Story is an informative watch even for those already familiar with him, making this DVD an excellent choice for most collections.

Well worth 4 stars.