|
contents | jazz | |||||||||||||
| ’Dark Magus’ by Miles Davis' Son Dark Magus: The Jekyll and Hyde Life of Miles Davis by Gregory Davis with Lesley Sussman is scheduled for publication in November, 2006. As told by his son, this book strips away the public perception of Davis-often based on books written without such intimate access to the man-and gets down to the realities of his personality, his relationships, and his many quirks. Dark Magus details this enigmatic superstar's Jekyll-and-Hyde behavior: his swings between sobriety and prodigious drug use; his tender family moments and his destructive selfishness; his search for marital stability and his obsession with young women; his exalted musical talent and his ever-present personal demons. Containing many never-before-seen family photos, this sometimes-shocking tell-all traces Miles Davis's life as seen through the eyes of the person who was closest to him for many years. As jazz star Clark Terry notes, "This book is a brilliant and engaging revelation of Miles's character through the recollections of his oldest son. It's a book about a legendary musician who was one of my closest friends and a book that's second to none." As he recounts the successes and scandals of Miles Davis's life, the author delves into Davis's relationships with artists such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and John Coltrane; his role as a mentor to young musicians; his obsession with sports; the ups and downs of his career and its affect on his family; and the family's turmoil over his final will. According to Phil Freeman, author of Running the Voodoo Down: The Electric Music of Miles Davis, "Dark Magus is an inherently fascinating tale told from a previously unavailable perspective. Gregory Davis, as Miles Davis's son and former housemate, has experiences to relate that no biographer or journalist has shared with the trumpeter's fans. As a newly discovered piece of the puzzle that was Miles Davis, this book is sure to find an avid, waiting readership." Gregory Davis is the eldest of Miles Davis's four children. Born in 1945 in St. Louis, Missouri, Gregory traveled extensively with his father from the time he was around 11 years old. During Miles's fusion period, Gregory served as his father's assistant road manager and bodyguard. Gregory, who is also a trumpet player, graduated from Long Island University with a master's degree in psychology. He has four children and lives in New York City. Backbeat Books publishes books for people who are passionate about music, whether as performers or avid fans. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |