Miles Davis couldn't miss Berchidda this year either. The event is scheduled for August 11th in Piazza del Popolo with "Kind of Miles," the theatrical and musical work conceived, written, and performed by Paolo Fresu, creator and artistic director of Time in Jazz. The announcement of "Kind of Miles"'s inclusion in the program of the 39th edition of the festival comes on the heels of the show's ongoing success, as evidenced by the recent sold-out performances in Cagliari and Sassari.
“Kind of Miles” is a scenic and sonic journey that evokes the creative and visionary universe of Miles Davis, a central figure in jazz and 20th-century music, whose birth centenary falls this year. In this work, which debuted in October 2024, Fresu interweaves narrative, autobiographical moments, and original music to retrace the artistic and human trajectory of the legendary “Prince of Darkness,” who passed away in 1991. The production is directed by Andrea Bernard, an internationally active artist from Bolzano, and on stage Fresu (trumpet, flugelhorn, and multi-effects) is joined by a select instrumental lineup consisting of Bebo Ferra (electric guitar), Dino Rubino (piano and Fender Rhodes Electric Piano), Marco Bardoscia (double bass), Stefano Bagnoli (drums), Filippo Vignato (trombone, electronic multi-effects, keyboard), Federico Malaman (electric bass), and Christian Meyer (drums).
Musicians who have always collaborated with Fresu, and who in this show participate in the collective writing woven with ample spaces for improvisation and interpretations of pages from the Davisian repertoire: from the first recordings with Charlie Parker to the groups with Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane, from the productions with Gil Evans to the stellar quintet with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock, from the historic album of the "electric turning point", "Bitches Brew", up to the 1980s, also embracing the pop of "Time after Time".
"Kind of Miles" ideally closes the trilogy produced by the Teatro Stabile di Bolzano in collaboration with Pannonica, Paolo Fresu's management agency. In recent years, the Gallura-born trumpeter has starred in the shows "Tango Macondo" and "Tempo di Chet," dedicated to Chet Baker, another key figure in his musical career. "Chet Baker and Miles Davis were my inspirations, two artists I loved dearly and felt very close to," explains the Time in Jazz founder. "Miles taught us to always move forward. I believe that in this historical moment, beyond aesthetics, there is a pressing need to see beyond things. Perhaps it will be vision, poetry, and courage that will give us the chance to save the planet."
