Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool

The life and pain of the jazz great in his own words and music

"...The legacy in American popular culture of the great jazzman..."

Sept. 13, 2019 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool Brings the Legend’s Legacy to AFS Doc Days

Biographical documentary captures the transformational jazz genius

"...The biographical documentary Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool features..."

May 31, 2019 Screens Feature by Kahron Spearman

'Birth of the Cool'

Bargains, film, and live jazz jazz up the Blanton's toast to midcentury modernism

"...Given the torch our town carries for retro/vintage fashion and design,..."

Feb. 27, 2009 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Sold on the Cool

The Blanton's 'Birth of the Cool' is midcentury modernism made sexy

"...The woman leans back into the sleek black sofa, her..."

March 13, 2009 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

AFS Doc Days Gets Cool With Miles Davis

Three day celebration of true tales returns for second year

"...Doc Days, the Austin Film Society's documentary mini-festival, comes back swinging for..."

April 26, 2019 Screens Post by Richard Whittaker

Miles and Miles of Miles

The Columbia Legacy

"...Even in the very beginning, it was there -- a style. The..."

Dec. 12, 1997 Music Feature by Jeff Mccord

Kill the Trumpet Player

Don Cheadle does Miles Davis in freak-fusion biopic Miles Ahead

"...It's easy to imagine what a traditional Miles Davis biopic might have looked like: young Miles learning..."

March 11, 2016 Screens Feature by Michael Agresta

Off the Record

Paying tribute to the Texas Tornado, working out at the Music Gym, and Trail of Dead's Justice for all

"...Dispossessed Men and Mothers of Texas..."

Feb. 20, 2009 Music Column by Austin Powell

Retirement and the City

Retirement is tough. Living Downtown makes it all better.

"...Like many longtime Austinites, I've watched the Downtown landscape fill up with high-rise condo towers and..."

March 27, 2009 Food Feature by Linda Ball

The Death of Rock & Roll

Top 10s: Year, Decade, Eternity

"...Like this country's forefathers, it came from England. Though it didn't originate there,..."

Jan. 7, 2000 Music Feature by Raoul Hernandez

Sound on Sound Review: Thundercat

South Los Angeles Renaissance jazz oddity cuts loose

"...Looking straight out of the thrift store, Thundercat played to his musical quirk..."

Nov. 5, 2016 Music Post by Alejandra Ramirez

Live Through This!

The Semi-Annual Rock & Roll Round-up

"...The back cover blurb from Entertainment Weekly enthuses: "Expect revelations..."

Dec. 5, 1997 Books Feature

Box Sets

Herbie Hancock

"...The Complete Blue Note Sixties Sessions (Blue Note)..."

Dec. 11, 1998 Music Feature

Better Than Nothing

Documentarian Ken Burns' takes on Jazz -- and loses.

"...(channel 18, cable channel 9) Monday and continues through the end of the month: "All the jazz critics who..."

Jan. 12, 2001 Music Feature by Harvey Pekar

Miles Davis

Gift guide

"...Miles DavisSeven Steps: The Complete Columbia Recordings of Miles Davis..."

Dec. 10, 2004 Music Feature by Harvey Pekar

The Blue Moment: Miles Davis's 'Kind of Blue' and the Remaking of Modern Music

Miles Davis' Kind of Blue and everything after

"...The Blue Moment: Miles Davis's 'Kind of Blue' and the..."

June 11, 2010 Music Feature by Jay Trachtenberg

Castles Made of Sound: The Story of Gil Evans

Sheet Music

"...Castles Made of Sound: The Story of Gil Evans By Larry Hicock..."

June 28, 2002 Music Review by Jay Trachtenberg

Postmarks

Home Is Where the Tax Credits Are

"...As spokesperson for the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, we commend..."

Aug. 28, 1998 Column

SXSW Film Adds Midnighters and More

Horror lineup announced, plus shorts and more

"...Booking a film festival is about whittling. This year, the SXSW Film Festival staff received about 1,500 narrative features..."

Feb. 9, 2016 Screens Post by Richard Whittaker

Record Reviews

"...The paradisiacal environs of Altadena, California have become home to..."

June 6, 1997 Music Review

100 Local SXSW Music Acts

A-Z list of 100 Austin acts showcasing at the Fest

"...Bar 96, 11pm Nearly 15 years on, Austin's Ortiz brothers continue to stoke the fires of hard rock and..."

March 17, 2017 Music Feature by The Music Staff

Chasing Amy

Painting lamps, chasing elephants, and singing with Alejandro Escovedo: Amy Cook jumps into the pool

"...Amy Cook seats herself on the basement floor of the not-yet-open Hotel Havana in San..."

April 9, 2010 Music Feature by Margaret Moser

SXSW Announces Midnighters, VR And More

Time to get dark and artistic with the latest film wave

"...so you've had your headliners and competition titles, with the normal array of talent and titles Now it's time..."

Feb. 5, 2020 Screens Post by Richard Whittaker

Reissues

"...GONE WITH THE WIND..."

Dec. 13, 1996 Music Feature

The Miles Davis Reader

Sheet Music

"...The Miles Davis Reader: Interviews and Features from Downbeat Magazineedited..."

March 28, 2008 Music Review by Jay Trachtenberg

Picks & Sleepers

Sxsw

"...South by Southwest is a game of numbers: approximately 845 showcases/bands, divided by five nights, divided..."

March 20, 1998 Music Feature

St. Germain Tourist (Blue Note), Erik Trufazz The Mask (Blue Note)

"...St. GermainTourist (Blue Note)Erik TrufazzThe Mask (Blue Note) What makes these two Paris-based "acid..."

Nov. 10, 2000 Music Review by Jay Trachtenberg

Letters at 3AM

A Little Late, For Bix

"...was coming and pretty much knew what it meant (whether for or against): This war announced a changed America..."

May 16, 2003 Column by Michael Ventura