‘Round Miles: Quincy Troupe on the Life and Music of Miles Davis

[@clydemoyler8021]

WHAT A GREAT STORY I COULD LISTEN TO HIM TALK ALL DAY

[@WickBeavers]

Man, you don’t look old enough to know this much! Most excellent story and the telling is grand! Thank you.

[@kourtwithakay]

My grandfather is one of the best story tellers I’ve ever heard. I love listening to these stories.

[@trishcooper9064]

I had the privilege of growing up in NYC in the 50’s and seeing Miles at Birdland many times and at Newport Jazz Festival and around the city. This is an incredible piece. Thank you Quincy!

[@castellidenis5257]

Bonjour, quel portrait si vivant de cet artiste énigmatique, à la fois complexé par la noirceur de sa peau, intelligent, comédien, frimeur mais profondément timide, victime autant que vainqueur de ses démons, souvent immoral mais hypersensible, doté d’une oreille musicale hors-pair, d’un goût très sûr, si seul dans son spendide isolement, bref un personnage aux multiples facettes, d’une incroyable richesse...merci vraiment, Quincy Troupe, de nous l’avoir enfin dévoilé et permis de l’aimer encore mieux !

[@ksenos69]

Thank you for this and greetings from Greece. "Miles" is the only book I've read in three languages, English, Greek, and German, multiple times.

[@tygarnerblues]

The great alchemist, Miles Davis. Thank you Quincy Troupe for CONCEPTUALISING the mercurial air sign of the Gemini. 'The man with the horn'. Spirited and knowing. Timeless. Salute!

[@cheri238]

Loved all of this. ❤ Thank you, sir . Miles was a genius of music and a human being with many colors. I met him in NYC in the 80s a couple of times. I never said a word to him, nor got too close , I just had insights to walk the other way. Who could not love his artistry? He was individual, committed to his art. Flaws we all have them. RIP Miles Davis.

[@louise_rose]

Yes, he was clearly known as a tough guy, a man one didn't argue with unless one had been given some sort of clearance to do so - or had earned it. No doubt it was also a survival posture he had learnt in a very tough business and across many encountersw with racism. What a groundbreaking musician and bandleader! :)

[@Mightyoverevery1]

Such a great story teller. Loved his book on Miles Davis. I read it a few years ago. I’m now listening to it on audible, and it’s like I never read it. Shout out to Dion Graham, who did an awesome job of narrating the book. He made you think it was Miles Davis himself talking to you. ✊🏾

[@henrygreen584]

Oh yeah Miles sit the bar, way up there man. I, can still hear him running the voodoo down.

[@michaeljoseph3528]

Beautiful chat. You are a breath of fresh air. You do Miles justice. Just as he did for his fellow musicians. Well done.

[@stevelafler]

Miles was a treasure, and so is Quincy T.

[@reefk8876]

Mind blowing. This needs to played a few times. Beautiful 👌🏽

[@robertodelapava5737]

Mr Troupe thanks a million

[@garrettirving8495]

That Was So Very Thoughtful Insight on One of Our Legends who was an Icon and Genius ! The Great Miles Davis who Stood and Moved as a MAN during his Life . ❤ 🔥🙌💪💯

[@beaujac311]

I've read the autobiography and Troupe's book Miles and Me. On this video he's telling me new stuff that was not in either book. Also the photo they show of Bird (16:13) is the first time I ever saw that one. He has a warm great smile on his face. Most of his photos he either has a horn in his mouth or one of those stock photos with the say cheese smiles. The photo here is a genuine smile caught in the moment. It's probably the best photo I've ever seen of Bird.

[@seansrecords]

i ve just started reading quincy's biography of Miles , this video was great though. I always try listen to lots of jazz musicians it almost seems cliche to say miles is your favourite jazz musician , but he is famous for a reason, i love miles far and away beyond everyone, the way he changed and the music around him changed yet he always had that singular voice which was always playing the right thing at the right time, my favourite stuff is the electric period and just before it - albums like Miles in the Sky ... and Jack Johnson is probably my favourite ... a true legend. I am a guitar player so love lots of guitar players , but the more time i spend listening to miles he becomes my favourite musician full stop.

[@marilynlitman6806]

A real musical genius love him madly!!!!

[@boopfer387]

40 years ago I saw an interview with him and I think it was 60mins and never been struck by someone so absolutely, I didn't know anything about Miles then bought your book. Miles introduced to me his swagger and mind blowing music to my life. Thank you for this and of course Miles! What a person to walk this earth in our time! A Beethoven / Bach level with really important ideas of how you should carry yourself. Ultimate confidence in the constant pursuit of excellence? Yes, and really the journey of normal life distractions, and he kept going back to the life passion and getting better.

[@googo151]

AMAZING STORY TELLER. LOVE THIS.

[@christopherbarker181]

He could not have had a better teacher than Clark Terry; truly one of the greatest trumpet (technicians) players ever. Amazing that you could have 10 great trumpet players and you could pick him out every time for his beautiful sound and perfect technique. He is greatly missed!

[@allen6924]

He Miles valve work on his trumpets for years. He was Miles mentor, but he was more than that FYI. Miles supporting him for years when he hits the lean years.

[@christopherbarker181]

What?

[@normanconnors3097]

😅1q a!`°``a!!+aaaa!aAAA!A+]

[@markstewart8816]

Technically speaking, Clark Terry was more advanced than Miles Davis. And his tone was better. But NOBODY understood the music better than Miles! Not Clark Terry, not Dizzy Gillespie, not even BIRD!!!

[@stephdrake2521]

Great interview- loved the stories about Miles.

[@luarchitect-iu2hq]

What a great piece! Thank you. Thank you.

[@ronaldpetrin5823]

Miles comes clean...with composers of all time, America, blues and all its music, "In Kind of Blue"...comes his own playing off each other with great musicians from White to Quincy to Mclaughlin, McCoy and on...setting his own path on his own terms. Burt Bacaharach RIP, Miles said Burt complimented him on his style, " I love the way you weave between the notes..." This "mother....' was picked and came through. Street sense indeed...no pre-tense-untreconstructed. RIP Miles. Regard to Miles music, my intro was "Right Off" I was turned on and hooked.

[@jonathaneffemey944]

Miles always kept his ears open.

[@BlackRootsAcademyOfSoul]

Thank you so much for this. Thank you! Well done Quincy 👊🏿🖤 I share my birthday with The G.O.A.T, Miles Davis 👌🏿👌🏿 Greetings from Uganda 🇺🇬 👊🏿🖤

[@brucescott4261]

BlackRoots UNLIMITED ..."G.OA.T.?" SMH!!!

[@inthemomenttomoment]

Smiles on Miles 🎺🎶!

[@Doctormix]

AMAZING

[@Navroze]

I got his book on Miles and the book on himself.. great interview

[@gwendolynsmith9879]

I loved the story about Mr. Miles .... to hear the namrs cold train just blow my mine....these players was doinh my mother and uncle era! I wastn" born, but at tje age of 12 my uncle introduce me to the Miles, Brook Benton, Dianh Washinton....thank you Quincy for the story.

[@charlesbarry971]

The greatest innovator.

[@brucescott4261]

Charles Berry ...Miles Davis wasn't greatest innovator. Get your information straight.

[@joeyalexander3836]

Great interview and stories

[@darylcumming7119]

Thank you.

[@matheuskerr9222]

thanks!!!

[@ianbuxton8332]

Wow!! Such an insight into his early years and the sheer SEEDINESS of the legendary Bird. Also discovered the reason for his love affair with 1930s black U.S. championship boxers!!

[@johnjacquard863]

i love this thak you!

[@loucifer8009]

I had two of those books and red them twice. Great story's in great chronological order. Kudos to Mr. Troupe!

[@hendrixpd1]

Great story. Please keep them coming.

[@johnbravorini1392]

Peace 2U and Thank you

[@paulreuben7343]

Great post

[@maltepreuss]

GREAT!

[@dianesiguenza5871]

Great story 👏 👌 👍 🙌 😀

[@lemon7780]

Myles had perfect pitch so evry sound he heard was a musical note. This video was so interesting from a guy who really knew Miles..

[@michaelroche5744]

Superb

[@jehanjoeffriljoesoef8429]

Miles Davis & Chet Baker, fantastico !

[@corywillmott413]

Fascinating interview with the author of Miles' "autobiography"! However, whoever put the photos in didn't know anything about Miles' life. His first time in France in 1949 he fell in love with Juliette Greco, as Quincy said, but they had a photo of him with Jeanne Moreau from 1958. Then when Quincy is talking about Miles "pimping" they show a photo of him with Margerite Eskeridge, a Choctaw woman who bore his third son, Evan! Really disrespectul!

[@paullagrotteria946]

excellent.

[@marilynlitman6806]

Knew him loved him to this day died 2 young

[@mim-zeemims]

Once I heard that if a fork dropped onto the floor Miles could tell you what note the sound made....Smh!

[@lancebarbarino8178]

My college professor at Richmond College NYC ... Black Studies... 1972, was it that long ago ? ..Does not seem like it Quincy

[@CharltonMcCullough]

Great story

[@ustheserfs]

the evolution between birth of the cool to on the corner spans 25 years in human comprehension but represents light years in astronomical terms.

[@zu0832]

good interview but hate to say it, alot of the younger Gen zers and Millenials don't know who Miles Davis is

[@luarchitect-iu2hq]

Not possible! Cannot be! (I know that some people exist that don't know anything, every generation has them.)

[@luarchitect-iu2hq]

Zu, you must tell them.

[@brucescott4261]

Simply Charly ...Nonet means a group of nine, and it wasn't created by Miles Dewey Davis III, PERIOD!!! YES!!! Miles was the originator of the Cool jazz era, which became extremely popular on the west coast (West Coast Jazz).

[@WestphillyRhythmconnection]

❤❤❤

[@hectornegron9155]

Just a housewife? We started off on the wrong foot. Housewives are in most cases the hardest working least appreciated members of our society but go on. Btw, Miles is my fav Jazz musician and his autobiography is one of my most precious possesions. Bought it the same day it came out and I still have it. Thank you very much for that, brother. Love that book.

[@seansrecords]

I don't think he was disparaging her , he said how educated she was . He said it in relation to the fact she could have been anything she wanted ... probably could have worded it better though i agree , but the sentiment was not negative .

[@hectornegron9155]

@@seansrecords Althought I might agree he didn't mean it in a negative manner, I felt and feel the need to mention it at every chance bc for many ppl that's the way it is. Regretably, aside from some men there's some ladies (I've personally met some of them) who also think being a housewife doesn't count as work either even thought in many cases, perhaps the vast majority, is even harder than going out to work an 8 hr shift since it is a 24/7 task and not be recognized for it except for maybe a little present on mother's day. I do appreciate your comment anyway. Be safe.

[@billysmith4333]

Did he play in Philadelphia what time

[@oluhamilton2121]

Very similar to Prince, who redefined his music many times over

[@patrickkelcey2435]

The only original indigenous art form of the Americas... Blues AND blue-grass BOTH came directly from Africa...True storey...

[@redvine1105]

Maybe it’s because I’m high but 56:37 is very funny to me. Seriously loling

[@JRM---516]

Quincy Troupe stepped down as California poet laureate after it was revealed that he lied about having a bachelor’s degree, resigned his $140,900-a-year post as a literature professor at UC San Diego. B.S artist in residency!

[@kourtwithakay]

Who cares.

[@JRM---516]

I talked to Troupe before -- I gave him grief because he didn't have the balls to admit to Miles Davis he liked McCoy Tyner after Miles trash-talked McCoy. Troupe's a jive turkey! @@kourtwithakay

[@fakename1253]

Hes done more than 96 percent of the bums with a degree. They have receipts and he has great books...

[@harveyg104]

Those white trumpeters became lawyers and bankers.😮😮😮

[@sheenaloves4809]

Troupe speaks of the black community in such simplistic, stereotypical ways that it's difficult to believe anything that he says. He's definitely speaking (writing) to the white, middle-class book buyer who doesn't have black friends or associates. Good for you, Quincy! Cash that check.😉

[@jackhays1194]

🤡

[@mortalclown3812]

There was a lot more to Miles' mother than this video reveals. It's disappointing tbh, given that she was an accomplished musician and not 'just' a housewife.

[@JerryAttric42]

you might want to know that Troupe was sued by Jack Chambers with plagiarizing large parts of his book. plus Miles had very little to do with writing his 'autobiography.'

[@charles-iii6759]

[They] always tried to put down something that is good but not created by [them]. When that doesn't work, then next [they] learn it and go out of [their] way to claim that [they] "do it better" or in some kind of way [they] have something to do with its creation. And since [they] are the one who have control over almost everything in this country, [they] make sure things would go according to what [they] say, how [they] say it, and how [they] print it. Three times Miles competed nationally and three times [they] made sure Miles won't get not even a second place. Nothing new about this sh*t and not much has changed since.

[@djwright5686]

In racist America you talk like there was something normal about his life!❤

[@ignacioduran5993]

Tuning out of this after he says "and his mom...(awkward pause)...was just a...housewife." Why deny or "cover up" the fact that his mother was a music teacher. Even if she were to have left the profession or vocation, for whatever reason, it is undignified and despicable actually for the speaker and the producers to not acknowledge this important formative factor. Why? Just because she was a woman? So I am boycotting this " documentary"!

[@yurib7067]

I’m sorry but I can see exactly why miles would lose competitions against people that had legit technique. He hated wynton because wynton had it.

[@patoni860]

Quincy troupe is a good guy but his stories don't line up with the way to Clark Terry tells it. I've heard other people tell the stories that he's telling that were there, and his story version and there's don't line up. Clark Terry was introduced to miles through miles's High School music teacher who was good friends with Clark Terry. He needs to tell that part.. and his old man quit sending him money when he quit going to school. Get your story straight

[@synergyhowacquisition3821]

however, Miles fell for the okie doke...... dating and marrying the enemie..... the wight girl".....

[@patoni860]

Now I know why this guy's books doesn't sell. He doesn't get the story straight

[@kokayiufanifu8309]

Just a housewife?

[@georgemcfetridge8310]

Troupe seems to exaggerate Miles's 1945 and earlier ability. How would he know, anyway? To my ears, MD didn't start making anything lasting until 1948, and only attained greatness in 1954. I think Troupe's success with the Miles autobio went to his head, and here he's styling himself as a revisionist to further a name for himself in the critical pantheon.

[@brucescott4261]

George McFetridge ...You're absolutely and positively correct, George! Quincy Thomas Troupe, Jr., a poet, journalist, et al. sometimes, go beyond himself about Miles.The nonet sides didn't sell during late 'forties. Miles' comeback occurred in 1955, when he appeared at the Newport Jazz Festival. The latter formed his new quintet featuring John Coltrane, Red Garland, "Philly" Joe Jones and Paul Chambers afterwards. There where other trumpeters before and after Miles, such as Dizzy Gillespie, Fats Navarro, Howard McGhee, Kenny Dorham, Clifford Brown, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Booker Little, just to name a few. John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was the very first modern jazz trumpeter, PERIOD!!! There's more than what meets the eye, George! I love Miles. However, the latter isn't number one on my list of modern jazz trumpeters. Miles is number six, and it's been that way for over a half century now.

[@ceelothatmane9421]

Was he exaggerating his ability or was he explaining the mentality that evolved into the greatness that was miles Davis? As someone who didn’t know much about him, it doesn’t sound like he was saying the guy was so great.

[@georgemcfetridge8310]

@@ceelothatmane9421 I'm sure Troupe spoke carelessly because he doesn't know music well, just like most writers I've come across. I feel that MD's great success in the music field was based on his self-belief, obvious talent aside. It was partially there at first, but took some years to really manifest. As Miles says in his book, he wasn't sure he could pull it all together in his early, junkie period, but he found it, and got to his great period. Again, I think it's about believing in yourself.

[@markl1301]

Hoping that you are continuing to monitor this Comment thread. At 17:21 Troupe makes a statement very close to this: "The Birth of the Cool - that made him a star - he and Chet Baker...." At 17:26 there is a photo of (left to right) Baker, Davis and ? - with Davis holding forward what looks to be a brand new trumpet. The two obviously had met, if only in passing, but did Davis and Baker ever *play* together? Was the latter ever a sometime participant (or at least a presence) in that Gil Evans apartment group?

[@georgemcfetridge8310]

@@markl1301 Hi - I always follow up on these discussions in the interest of seeing if it's possible to write words about music without sounding trivial or foolish or self-inflated [Troupe]. To my knowledge, the two were both in the Lighthouse club on the same night, but according to the live recordings, played separately. Also, no, CB didn't spend time in NYC in the late 40s, so could not have been in the discussion group you mention. At that point he was a teenager, and a west coaster. It's interesting to study this history by quotes from both of them: Baker felt subordinate to Miles and said so; MD felt genuinely threatened by CB's immense popularity in the early 50s - it's in his autobiography. And of course both utilized the US publicity machine to get to household name status, although Baker was far more disorderly, as is well known. I think CB's winning of polls [part of the machine] spurred Miles to pull himself together - to our benefit!

[@skillet6870]

Mmmmmmm, whatever.