“MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF THE COOL” — 3 stars — Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Juliette Greco; not rated; Broadway; running time: 115 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — There’s a good chance that even if you don’t know much about jazz music, you’re at least familiar with Miles Davis. Stanley Nelson’s “Birth of the Cool,” which premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, tells the A to Z story of Davis’ life and career through the words and music of the musician himself.
The film opens in the 1920s, when Davis was born just off the Mississippi River in Illinois. We learn about his childhood in East St. Louis, where a birthday present at age 13 helped steer him on a career in music but also foreshadowed some of the personal conflicts he’d face in the years to come.
As the film rolls forward, we check off the major steps of his career. As a young man, Davis relocates to New York City in the late 1940s to chase after his idols: Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. He becomes a fixture on the 52nd Street jazz club scene, and we learn a little about the importance of bebop.
Over time, a theme emerges as Nelson explains how various encounters shaped Davis’ perspective on race. A trip to Paris is a revelation and a boost to his creativity, but it makes his return to the Jim Crow-era United States that much more discouraging.
The film’s title refers to his 1949 album of the same name, which helped to crystalize the trumpet player’s distinctive style, described by one interviewee as being “romantic, without being sentimental.” But the title also refers to Davis’ evolution into a style icon, especially after the mainstream success of his 1959 release “Kind of Blue,” which featured a young John Coltrane.
Throughout the film, a combination of musical cues and often striking visuals — both still photographs and period footage — take us on a journey through Davis’ career. We hear from famous musicians like Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana and Quincy Jones, but also listen to friends and intimates like Juliette Greco and Frances Taylor, a famous dancer who was married to Davis in the 1960s.
Through a voiceover by actor Carl Lumbly, we hear Davis tell his story in his own words, but it’s the jazz legend’s music that provides the most vivid narrative arc as we hear his early work evolve before embracing more mainstream rock and funk influences as he strove to maintain relevance into the 1970s.
All along the way, themes of race, conflict and personal challenges — including his bouts with substance abuse — paint a picture of a man who, like many such musicians, fought common demons.
“Birth of the Cool” doesn’t pull any punches, either, letting friends and family reveal unflattering episodes and aspects of Davis’ complicated personality.
Whether you have a passing interest or a deep affection for Davis’ work, “Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool” provides a comprehensive and insightful narrative. Like Davis’ own life, Nelson’s film follows a predictable pattern — which seems a little sad given the dynamic style of Davis’ music. But that may not matter for those happy to just get lost in the atmosphere of Miles Davis’ music.
Rating explained: “Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool” is not rated, but would draw an R rating for scattered profanity, mature language and adult themes.