Zurich Jazz Orchestra «Miles Ahead» feat. Matthieu Michel

This evening features the first two works from the collaboration of Miles Davis and Gil Evans. Following last year's performance of «Porgy & Bess», Matthieu Michel on trumpet is also involved once again. The tracks, recorded in 1949 and 1950, and later issued as the «Birth of the Cool» album, are considered to be ground-breaking works between Bebop and Cool Jazz. As a soloist one also hears trumpeters from the band. Almost ten years later, in addition to his many quintet recordings, a new format was sought for Miles Davis, who had in the interim become very popular.

Miles contracted Gil Evans, who combined classic Band instruments like the tuba, French horn and bass clarinet. The results were great arrangements of tracks such as «My Ship», «The Duke» and «Meaning of the Blues». Matthieu Michel, who grew up in musician family in Freiburg, is the perfect choice for Miles' part. The trumpeter is seen as an exceptional improvisational talent with his own language and outstanding technique. His international reputation has taken him on tour througout more than 40 countries.