Miles Davis 100

Miles Davis 100

From Composer of the Week by BBC Radio 3

May 29, 2026 · 1h 21m

About this episode

Kate Molleson explores the life and work of Miles Davis, a cultural icon in jazz music, alongside critic Nate Chinen.

This week Kate Molleson explores the life and work of a cultural icon: trumpeter, composer and bandleader Miles Davis, who was born 100 years ago this week and remains one of the most innovative and influential figures in 20th-century music. Kate is joined throughout the week by the leading American jazz critic Nate Chinen. Together, they'll survey his vast recorded output, which spans five decades, prioritising his own compositions but also appreciating the art of improvisation as spontaneous composition.

People in this episode

Host: Kate Molleson

Guest: Nate Chinen

Topics covered

  • Miles Davis
  • jazz music
  • improvisation
  • 20th-century music
  • cultural icon

Keywords

  • Miles Davis
  • jazz
  • trumpeter
  • composer
  • bandleader
  • improvisation
  • 20th-century music

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: BBC Radio 3

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