On September 26, 2019, NYPL librarian Dave Mcmullin will lead the discussion, Miles Davis: 1969 and Beyond, part of Jazz Speak, Grand Central Library’s continuing collaboration with the Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound and New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. Using rare materials from the Library's archival collections for the program, expert librarians have put together exclusive presentations on important and popular culture. In a recent Q&A, Mcmullin told us about preparing for Miles Davis: 1969 and Beyond: 

What will you discuss at your upcoming NYPL Talk on Miles Davis?

Mcmullin: I will be discussing the music Miles Davis made between 1969 and 1975, a period where Davis was playing electrified music in increasingly experimental forms.

Which collections are you incorporating into your presentation?

Mcmullin: I'm going to draw from several archival collections for this presentation, including the Teo Macero Collection as well as the George Avakian and Anahid Amejian papers. Both Macero and Avakian played pivotal roles in Davis' recording career.

What is it about Miles Davis that makes him so culturally appealing and ultimately enduring?

Mcmullin: Davis really forged a new and distinctive sound with his trumpet, one that was tough and spare, but lyrical. People feel it and respond to it immediately. He produced some of the most widely appealing and commercially successful recordings in the history of jazz. But I think the most important thing about Davis, what has made his legacy so enduring, was his constant and fearless artistic restlessness. Not just once, but numerous times, he released records that were the landmark works of entire new genres.

What is something the community might not know about New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, its collections, and your work?

Mcmullin: Well, one thing I certainly hope people know about the Library for the Performing Arts is that our collections are open to everyone. We recently made the Lou Reed Papers available to the public, and people from around the world have written and called to ask if they are allowed to access the collection. The answer is yes! You don't have to have fancy credentials or permission—just come by if you are interested.

What are your personal favorite recordings connected to Miles Davis during this period? 

Mcmullin: My favorite record of this period would probably be the the phenomenal 1972 release On The Corner. At this time, Davis was incorporating influences as disparate as Sly Stone and Karlheinz Stockhausen. What he and the other musicians on the recording came up with is something else altogether… with particularly incredible percussion from drummers Jack DeJohnette and Billy Hart.

In general, what are some overlooked or underappreciated books, music, and films you would like to encourage our community to explore?

Mcmullin: I don't know if they have been necessarily overlooked, but I'd like to recommend two recent books I've read about popular music: Jesse Jarnow's great book about The Weavers, Wasn't That a Time, and Hanif Abdurraquib's Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes on A Tribe Called Quest.

Both books detail the careers of bands, and both use the bands' stories to explore American culture and politics, showing how their music was shaped by, and reacted to, those forces. They're both really fun reads as well, full of great, headstrong, and brilliant characters.

LPA Jazz Speak at Grand Central Library

George Avakian: Jazz Innovator 

August 29, 2019, 6:00 PM

Miles Davis: 1969 and Beyond

September 26, 2019, 6:00 PM

Please RSVP here via email to reserve your spot. 
For additional details, please contact your local NYPL branch.

Librarian Dave Mcmullin works for the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in the Performing Arts, Music, and Recorded Sound Division.

Librarian Gregory Stall works at the Grand Central branch of the New York Public Library. He is currently collaborating with the NYPL Science, Industry and Business Library to expand the Picture Yourself Online program created and launched by fellow NYPL librarian Arieh Ress. 

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