The Miles Electric Band is an eleven-member ensemble of world-class talents featuring performances from a unique roster of players. The band revisits the repertoire from Davis’ electric period as a framework for modern jazz innovation. Miles Davis alums include on piano two Grammy® nominees John Beasley and Robert Irving III, Grammy® nominee Badal Roy on tabla, legendary P-funk guitarist and MD Blackbyrd McKnight, noted percussionist Munyungo Jackson and Grammy® winner Vince Wilburn, Jr., Davis’ nephew on drums. Also filling essential roles in the cast are bassist Darryl Jones, recognized for his recordings with Sting and decades long tour duty on bass for the Rolling Stones, percussionist Mino Cinelu whose music score was recognized at the Cannes Film Festival, Antoine Roney on saxophone who has toured the world with jazz veterans Freddie Hubbard and Elvin Jones, rounded out by the electronic flourishes of hip-hop turntablist DJ Logic.
Drawing upon the enormous pool of talent influenced through the decades by Miles Davis, trumpet duties by design are handled by special guest artists. In Chicago and Los Angeles, Grammy® winning trumpeter Nicholas Payton was featured, and at Sunset Junction it was Grammy® winner Wallace Roney, with other Jazz heavyweights set to join in the future.
Positive reviews have fueled demand for the ensemble. Of their debut performance during the Miles Davis Festival in Chicago, Downbeat Magazine declared, “Despite boasting a host of bandleaders in the ranks, the group played with restraint and vibe over histrionics keeping the brew on simmer…” Of the Hollywood Bowl performance Daily Variety remarked, ”Everyone rocked and socked, and it wasn’t nostalgic in the least,” The Los Angeles Times shared “The Miles Electric Band quickly pumped up a party vibe” noting the “festival friendly” material of Miles Davis’ electric period.
The Miles Electric Band is now a featured part of the Davis family’s plan to bring Miles Davis’ music to a new generation of music lovers through festival appearances and recordings.
| ARTIST | INSTRUMENT | WEBSITE |
|---|---|---|
| Ravi Coltrane | Sax | www.mileselectricband.com |
| Vincent Wilburn Jr. | Drums | |
| Jeremy Pelt | Trumpet | |
| Robert Irving III | Piano/Keys | |
| Antoine Roney | Saxophone | |
| David Gilmore | Guitar | |
| Munyungo Jackson | Percussions | |
| Richard Patterson | Bass | |
| Debasish Chaudhury | Tabla |