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listening to a ghost

What Miles Davis teaches us about the art of innovation




Summertime – and, as the song says, the living is easy.


Relaxing, recharging mental batteries and absorbing plenty of sunshine. Moments of golden pleasure.


One of which for me is the joy of listening to the ‘Proms’. The famous series of concerts started a century ago by Henry Wood and Robert Newman which aimed to bring serious music to the ears of everyone. Their vision was the ‘promenade’ style of concert, one which allowed people to stand, walk around, and enjoy the music casually instead of sitting in formal, quiet rows. For a long time this wonderful experience was confined to the Royal Albert Hall in London, but when the BBC took over running these events it opened up the concerts to the world via the magic of broadcasting. Democratising and diverse, bringing all sorts of music to the attention of millions.


Including people like me, sitting and watching the sunset with a soundtrack. And right now I’m listening to a particularly appropriate piece to accompany Helios as he sinks slowly behind gold-topped hills. A young trumpeter working his skilful way around Gil Evans’ famous arrangement of George Gershwin’s haunting song ‘Summertime’ from the musical Porgy and Bess.


Closing my eyes - and getting shivers down my spine.


Which is an entirely appropriate if you’ve just seen (or in my case, heard) a ghost.


The spectre in question would have celebrated his 100th birthday this year and this Promenade concert is being staged to remind us of the huge contribution he made as a musical innovator.



Miles Davis, born 26th May, 1926; by the time he died he’d rewritten many of the rules of the musical game. Someone whose spirit lives on in the style and approach taken by artists around the world today.


What he knew about making something new – innovation - hasn’t dated at all.


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