exhibit
Bird, Diz, and Miles: The Making of Miles Davis (1944–1950)
The formative years of Miles Davis as he came of age in the revolutionary world of bebop, alongside Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.
May 1, 2026 – July 12, 2026
On view in the Ida McBeth Gallery, American Jazz Museum.
Bird, Diz, and Miles: The Making of Miles Davis (1944–1950) explores the formative years of Miles Davis as he came of age in the revolutionary world of bebop. Playing alongside innovators like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, Davis absorbed the sounds and ideas that would shape his own groundbreaking voice. From East St. Louis to New York City, this exhibition traces the people, recordings, and moments that helped forge one of the most influential artists in jazz history. This exhibition features records, sheet music, photographs, and memorabilia from the collection of the American Jazz Museum.
The exhibition is curated concurrently with Miles Davis 100: Listen to This!, a centennial exhibition hosted by Jazzinsieme in Pordenone, Italy. The international exhibition features original drawings and paintings, photographs, and rare memorabilia from the collection of the American Jazz Museum.
