迈尔斯戴维斯(1926～1991年)
Davis, Miles (Dewey)
美国爵士乐小号手、乐队领队，是最早演奏爵士乐和对爵士乐最有影响的音乐人士之一。父亲是着名牙外科医生，1944年就读於纽约茱丽亚音乐学院（Juilliard School），1946～1948年与查理帕克一起工作。早期主要是当乐队领队，1949年灌制了《冷爵士乐的诞生》（Birth of the Cool）唱片，其中一种轻松的美感取代了咆哮乐（bebop）的狂热风格，开创了1950年代的「酷派爵士乐」（cool jazz）。1955年起，戴维斯的乐队采用他的简洁、抒情的作法，与那些萨克管演奏家（如科尔特兰〔John Coltrane〕和萧特〔Wayne Shorter〕）极难懂的曲风正好相反。其深沈忧郁的曲调、有条不紊的即兴演奏，以及经常使用金属消音器对爵士小号独奏者的影响很大。1959年发表的专辑唱片《泛泛蓝调》（Kind of Blue）是典型和声爵士开创性的代表作。1960年代期间，他的音乐变得越来越前卫，1960年代末使用了电子乐器（如1969年的《酿造泼妇》〔Bitches Brew〕），因而在1970年代促使爵士乐和摇滚乐的融合。
English version：
1926～1991年
Davis, Miles (Dewey)
U.S. trumpeter and bandleader, one of the most original and influential musicians in jazz. Born in Alton, Ill., Davis grew up in East St. Louis, Mo., and began study at the Juilliard School in New York in 1944. He worked with Charlie Parker 1946-48. His early efforts as a bandleader resulted in recordings known as “Birth of the Cool” (1949), in which a relaxed aesthetic replaced the freneticism of bebop and launched the “cool jazz” school of the 1950s. From 1955 Davis's groups framed his spare, lyrical approach in contrast to the dense complexity of saxophonists such as John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter. His dark, brooding tone, logically paced improvisations, and frequent use of the metal Harmon mute were major influences on jazz trumpet soloists. The 1959 album Kind of Blue was a pioneering example of modal harmonic jazz. His music became more aggressive during the 1960s, and his use of electronic instruments by the end of the decade (Bitches Brew, 1969) gave rise to the jazz-rock fusion of the 1970s.