Miles Smiles in Montreal Through August
Multimedia Exhibition at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
By: Charles Giuliano - May 05, 2010
When Miles released Bitches Brew the local Colombia Records PR guy, Sal Ingeme, who knew him well, arranged an interview. For a couple of months I dug into the sides to prepare for the meeting.
I was on the way to the short of my then twist after the gig when Sal ran up and said. "Miles will talk to you."
It was a small dressing room at Lennie's on the Turnpike. That night the band included both Chick Corea and Keith Jarrett on electric Fender pianos. Michael Henderson played bass and Jack DeJohnette was on drums. Gary Bartz was the reed player and guitarist John McLaughlin sat in that night.
Miles looked at me in the mirror over his shoulder and slowly combed his hair.
"What was it like to blow with Bird" I asked.
"Sheeeeeeettttttt" he answered slowly with a snarl. "Ofaymofo. It's such a drag to talk about the past."
I froze. Failed the cool test. All that research, gone baby.
"What do you want to talk about Miles" I asked with some desperation.
Staring at my reflection he said "I have a problem. Did you catch the gig tonight? See I got two piano players Keith and Chick. I can't keep them both. Who should I get rid of? I think Keith gives me more."
That night he fired Chick. A week later I caught him at Harvard Stadium with Keith.
After that I got to hang between sets when he was at the Workshop. We never spoke just hung in a silent way. He would say to the bartender. "Give the offaymofo a drink." I learned a lot from Miles. Sheeeeeettttt how I miss him.
What follows is the ofaymofo press release from the jiveass Montreal Museum up there in the land of the ever cool. We'll try to make the gig.
Twenty years after the last concert given by Miles Davis (1926 to 1991) in Montreal, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is presenting – in its exclusive North American venue – the first multimedia retrospective devoted to the jazz legend, from April 30 to August 29, 2010. “We Want Miles”: Miles Davis vs. Jazz will combine image and sound to offer visitors a sensory experience inspired by Miles Davis himself: “A painting is music you can see, and music is a painting you can hear.” This exhibition was developed and organized by the Cité de la Musique, France’s leading music institution, with the support of Miles Davis Properties, LLC, in association with the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
The title of the exhibition refers to the album We Want Miles, which the artist recorded in 1981.
“This presentation in Montreal is particularly significant, since, for more than thirty years, the city has been host to one of the largest and most prestigious jazz festivals, the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, which featured a memorable Miles Davis several times,” said Nathalie Bondil, director of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. “Hence, this first incursion into the realm of jazz on the part of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts will have particular resonance.
The exhibition continues the Museum’s exploration of the connection between visual art and music recently initiated with the multimedia exhibitions Warhol Live: Music and Dance in Andy Warhol’s Work and Imagine: The Peace Ballad of John & Yoko.”
The Montreal presentation of this exhibition features more works of art and devotes an additional section to the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (FIJM). Featuring some three hundred and fifty works, the show is divided into eight thematic and chronological periods in the life and work of Miles Davis and highlights his strong influence on other art forms.
Many portraits taken by Herman Leonard, Irving Penn, Annie Leibovitz and Anton Corbijn are included in the exhibition. Along with drawings and paintings by Miles
Davis, a little known aspect of his artistic output that was very important to him.
The presentation includes several brightly coloured compositions oscillating between figuration and abstraction, works that were painted at the end of his life in collaboration with his final companion, Jo Gelbard. These works are being exhibited for the first time.
Paintings by Jean Michel Basquiat, Mati Klarwein and a sculpture by Niki de Saint Phalle bear witness to the influence Miles Davis had beyond the musical sphere. Lastly, exclusive documents loaned by the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal will evoke the artist’s memorable concerts. The FIJM is also a partner in this event.