2 New Miles Davis Projects Coming Spring 2016

Empty Lighthouse is a reader-supported site. This article may contain affiliate links to Amazon and other sites. We earn a commission on purchases made through these links.

The 90th birthday of music innovator Miles Davis with the release of two special new Miles Davis album projects that include Miles Ahead the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Everything's Beautiful, a cover album featuring a star-studded lineup.

Mile Ahead, the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is a cinematic exploration of the life and music of Miles Davis, the movie feature "Miles Ahead" marks the directorial debut of Don Cheadle, who co-wrote the screenplay (with Steven Baigelman) and stars as the legendary musician in the film.

Miles Ahead will be available Friday, April 1.

Everything's Beautiful, reimagined interpretations of Miles Davis' music produced by Grammy Award winner Robert Glasper (who also served as coproducer of the Miles Ahead (soundtrack) with musical guest artists including Bilal, Illa J, Erykah Badu, Phonte, Hiatus Kaiyote, Laura Mvula, KING, Georgia Ann Muldrow, John Scofield and Ledisi, and Stevie Wonder.

A visionary exploration of the music of Davis, Everything's Beautiful incorporates Davis' original recordings into new collaborative soundscapes and will be available Friday, May 27 (the day after Miles' 90th birthday).

The Miles Davis track featuring Bilal "Ghetto Walkin," from the upcoming release Everything's Beautiful, premieres today for the first time during Zane Lowe's Beats 1 show on Apple Music.

Miles Ahead - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack explores the breadth and depth of Davis' musical innovations, combining 11 highlights from the legendary trumpeter/composer/bandleader's Prestige and Columbia Records catalogs with original new compositions written and performed by Grammy Award-winning jazz/hip-hop artist Robert Glasper.

Select new tracks on the soundtrack album include guest appearances by Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, rapper Pharoahe Monch and more.

Both the CD and LP packages for Miles Ahead - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack feature revelatory new liner notes penned by Don Cheadle.

"We culled the library for every style Miles touched...looking for cues to bridge key moments, bring others into focus. The stuff a good score is supposed to do.

Miles made it easier. His music is multi-faceted and score friendly," wrote Cheadle in his notes.

The 2016 SXSW Festival in Austin, TX will premiere the feature film "Miles Ahead" on Wednesday, March 16 at 8:00PM at The Paramount Theatre.

Miles Ahead Trailer