Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Guy Le Querrec
Stanley Nelson presents an expansive portrait of the life and work of the jazz pioneer.
Festival Section:
Documentary Premieres
Sundance Program Description:
Using words from Miles Davis’s autobiography, MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF THE COOL offers an incisive insight into our understanding of the legendary musician.
Newly released archival material, alongside interviews with pre-eminent historians and personal friends like Quincy Jones, illustrate a man of intensity and devotion to his craft. Despite the indignities of America during the time of segregation, nothing was going to stop Davis from realizing his dream: to create a new form of musical expression. Davis worked like a physicist with his collaborators to push musical experimentation and widen the tones and lyricism of jazz – the effects of which are felt to this day.
As the film delves into his past loves, personal relationships, and addictions, a clearer portrait of Davis the man emerges. Davis is fearless and engaging throughout, and his intellectual fervor is only tempered by his insecurities. Director Stanley Nelson’s epic biopic collects the strands of a creative life and weaves them together for us to understand one of the great modern American artists like never before.
Some Background:
Director/Producer:
Past Sundance docs:
TELL THEM WE ARE RISING: THE STORY OF BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (2017)
THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION (2015)
FREEDOM SUMMER (2014)
WHEN I WALK (2013)
FREEDOM RIDERS (2010)
WOUNDED KNEE (2009)
HIP HOP: BEYOND BEATS & RHYMES (2004)
A PLACE OF OUR OWN (2004)
THE MURDER OF EMMETT TILL (2003)
MARCUS GARVEY: LOOK FOR ME IN THE WHIRLWIND (2001)
THE BLACK PRESS: SOLDIERS WITHOUT SWORDS (1999)
The Firelight Media co-founder is a multi-Emmy Award winner, including a Lifetime Achievement Award, and previously won two awards at the festival.
Producer:
Past Sundance docs:
THE BLACK PANTHERS
AMERICAN PROMISE (2013)
London has also line produced Sundance alum SLAVERY BY ANOTHER NAME (2012).
Associate Producer:
Wimbush was a production intern at Firelight on THE BLACK PANTHERS. She is the editorial director of media group Black, Brown, and Digital.
Supervising Producers:
Worsley is the managing director of London-based Eagle Rock Entertainment, whose documentary projects have a particular focus on music.
Past Sundance docs:
MAYA ANGELOU: AND STILL I RISE (2016)
PATTI SMITH: DREAM OF A LIFE (2008)
The Emmy-winning Tsunashima is supervising producer for American Masters.
Series Producer:
Past Sundance docs:
MAYA ANGELOU: AND STILL I RISE
TROUBADOURS (2011)
SOUND AND FURY (2000)
THE BATTLE OVER CITIZEN KANE (1996)
Sacks is the Emmy-winning series producer for American Masters.
Executive Producers:
Shand is the chairman/CEO of Eagle Rock Entertainment.
Kempin is the co-founder and director of the board of Eagle Rock Entertainment.
Past Sundance docs:
MAYA ANGELOU: AND STILL I RISE
NORMAN LEAR: JUST ANOTHER VERSION OF YOU (2016)
American Masters’ Kantor also executive produced fellow 2019 Sundance Documentary Premieres TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM and WORDS FROM A BEAR. Before coming to the PBS series, he was an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning director whose work has appeared on PBS, HBO, and Bravo.
Editor:
Past Sundance docs:
THE BLACK PANTHERS
(T)ERROR (2015)
CESAR’S LAST FAST (2014)
FREEDOM RIDERS
THE FIGHT (2004)
THE MURDER OF EMMETT TILL
MARCUS GARVEY: LOOK FOR ME IN THE WHIRLWIND
THE BLACK PRESS: SOLDIERS WITHOUT SWORDS
Erskine is also a supervising editor for fellow 2019 Sundance doc ALWAYS IN SEASON, in the US Documentary Competition.
Associate Editor:
Past Sundance docs:
FREEDOM SUMMER
Assistant Editor:
This marks the first feature project and first Sundance credit for Kapadia. He is a 2019 Sundance Ignite fellow.
Why You Should Watch:
Nelson gives the visionary musician his due in this comprehensive biography. Full of rich archival recordings, the project is a must-see for jazz fans.
More Info:
Sundance’s Meet the Artist Profile
For Sundance screening dates and times, click the film title in the first paragraph.
what (not) to doc 