Miles Davis retrospective celebrates birth of cool

ST. LOUIS -- Jazz great Miles Davis was born in Alton, Ill., and grew up in East St. Louis, Ill. He left the St. Louis area at 18 to become one of jazz's premiere innovators, a trumpet player, composer and bandleader who came to epitomize the word cool.

The life and times of Miles Davis is chronicled in an exhibition titled "Miles: A Miles Davis Retrospective," continuing through February at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. The exhibit marks the 75th anniversary of Davis' birth.

Among the artifacts on display are a trumpet given to Davis when he was 13. Davis played the horn through the 1950s on his albums "Birth of the Cool," "Porgy and Bess" and "Kind of Blue." Also on display are lead sheets and scores, awards, clothing and photographs that follow Davis through his phenomenal career.

The exhibit begins with a 9 1/2-minute film of Davis performances from the 1940s to the 1990s. A digital audio tour and a collection of work by art photographers take visitors through Davis' world, with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Carlos Santana, Charlie Parker and Keith Jarrett serving as guides.

The museum is open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesdays. Admission is $5 for adults and $4 for seniors and students. Admission includes the audio tour. Admission is free on Mondays.