Proms 3: Miles Davis at 100

I saw Miles Davis play live at the Hammersmith Odeon on 21 April 1982. As our first son Freddie was born on the same day I might describe this as the best day in my life, but the trouble with describing one day as the best is it that it downgrades all others, including the day I met my wife, the days when our other children and grandchildren were born, and other days with special, sometimes unmentionable, events. Anyway I was tremendously excited to see Miles, not only because I loved his music and was mightily impressed by his capacity for reinvention but also because he connected me to Trane and Bird, other heroes of mine. (If you don’t know who Trane and Bird are, you should probably stop reading this blog). Miles was in his electronic phase but still had a wonderful and unique sound. He glowered at us, as we expected. I enjoyed the concert but remember the event more than the music. Last night I went to the Prom to celebrate Miles’s 100 birthday, and the hall was packed, even more…