Miles Davis at 100: Jazz musicians reflect on his sound and influence

Ahead of the 2026 centenary of Miles Davis's birth, surviving collaborators and contemporary players including Sonny Rollins, Terence Blanchard and John Scofield discuss his phrasing, band leadership and genre-spanning career, and highlight recordings such as Kind of Blue and Live-Evil.

Miles Davis's centenary in 2026 has prompted surviving collaborators and contemporary players to reflect on his music and influence. Journalists asked musicians including Sonny Rollins, Terence Blanchard and John Scofield to select key recordings and explain what they learned from him. The piece notes Davis's five-decade career across styles from bebop and cool jazz to modal jazz, fusion and jazz funk. It also highlights 1959's Kind of Blue as the bestselling jazz album of all time. What musicians said: - Many interviewees emphasised Davis's focus on melody, soft phrasing and leaving space in solos rather than technical display. - He is described as a decisive bandleader who listened closely, recorded gigs and sometimes discussed players' performances afterwards. - Several contributors cited specific recordings as touchstones, including Kind of Blue, Four & More, Live-Evil, So What and Sorcerer. - Musicians noted his role in launching younger talent, naming pianists and saxophonists who rose in bands he led. - Commentators pointed to later periods when Davis embraced electronics, backbeats and elements associated with hip-hop and rock. Summary: The centenary has prompted renewed attention to Miles Davis's recordings and methods, and some interviewees plan tribute performances this year. Undetermined at this time.