Blog | HPRG Miles Davis exhibition We Want Miles at the Cité de la Musique in Paris from 16th October 2009 – 17th January 2010 – Hotels Paris Rive Gauche Blog

Miles Davis exhibition We Want Miles
at the Cité de la Musique in Paris
from 16th October 2009 – 17th January 2010

Jazz fans rejoice! Miles Davis fans kneel down and give homage to Paris’ Cité de la Musique. Their new exhibition is all about Miles, the man that made serious jazz popular, the multi-faceted genius. Unmissable. We Want Miles!

This is your chance to learn everything about Miles Dabis’ musical and personal life, from his youth in East St-Louis right up to the retrospective concert he gave at La Villette (100 metres from the site of the exhibition) just a a few weeks before his death.

To explain everything about this visionary, the exhibition brings together photos taken by the best music photographers, video extracts of his concerts, instruments that he played, rare sheet music and stage clothes, papers relating to the making of his albums, original pressings of his records, plus works of art, painting and sculptures inspired by the man, showing that his aura shone way beyond the world of music.

The exhibition is organised into several rooms that follow periods in Miles’ life:

From St. Louis to 52nd Street: searching for Bird (1926-1948) – From a comfortable childhood to the New York clubs and the dream of be-bop.

Out of the Cool: invention et self-hatred (1949-1954) – First émancipation, the invention of cool and the torment of drugs.

Miles Ahead: in the studio for Columbia (1955-1962) – In big or small groups, the albums that were to reveal his full talent.

Miles Smiles: controlled freedom (1963-1967) – Feeling young again and getting back into jazz.

Electric Miles: the distortion of rock (1968-1971) – A new era, a new look. Miles gets into rock.

On the Corner: the pulse of funk (1972-1975) – Looking for the sound of the streets: the blackness of funk and the impact of boxing.

Silence, solitude and requiem (1976-1980) – Torments, dizziness and reclusion.

“Star People”: the interplanetary icon (1980-1991) – Setting up the image of a legend, icon and star.

Guided visits of the exhibition are available, including specially-adapted visits for kids, people with hearing difficulties, the visually impaired and blind and the mentally handicapped. Visits/workshops are also organised for school parties.

And a cycle of concerts is also on offer during the time of the exhibition, with Wayne Shorter at the Salle Pleyel on 29th October 2009 for example.

The exhibition We Want Miles is at the Cité de la Musique (here) from 16th October 2009 to 17th January 2010. Closed Mondays. Open Tuesday to Saturday from midday – 6pm and Sundays from 10am – 6pm. Late night opening on Fridays until 10pm. Open specially until 8pm on concert nights: 27th, 28th, 30th and 31st October and 18th & 19th December. Admission: 8€ / 4€.