{"id":75202,"date":"2023-11-14T20:51:12","date_gmt":"2023-11-14T20:51:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/adv\/alumni-news-media\/?p=75202"},"modified":"2023-12-12T15:02:28","modified_gmt":"2023-12-12T15:02:28","slug":"jazz-comics-and-the-search-for-sound","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/adv\/alumni-news-media\/2023\/11\/14\/jazz-comics-and-the-search-for-sound\/","title":{"rendered":"Jazz, Comics, and the Search for Sound"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” background_image=”57332″ css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”150px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”grid” use_row_as_full_screen_section_slide=”no” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/4″][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1701286851465{padding-top: 15px !important;padding-right: 15px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;padding-left: 15px !important;background-color: rgba(24,41,87,0.8) !important;*background-color: rgb(24,41,87) !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Jazz, Comics, and the Search for Sound<\/h1>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/4″][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”150px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” text_align=”left” background_color=”#7eb1dc” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”25px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Artist and musician Dave Chisholm \u201913E (DMA) presents a graphic novel on jazz legend Miles Davis.<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”25px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_empty_space height=”25px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]Dave Chisholm \u201913E (DMA) became fascinated with Miles Davis as a child listening to his parents\u2019 jazz records. At 11, he started playing the trumpet, and in college and at the Eastman School of Music<\/a>, he studied Davis and other jazz greats.<\/p>\n

Now the jazz trumpeter, composer, and visual artist has realized a dream: crafting a graphic novel about the legendary musician, with participation from Davis\u2019s own family members. In collaboration with Z2 Comics and the Miles Davis estate, Chisholm has published Miles Davis and the Search for Sound<\/em>, a brilliantly colored, 150-plus-page exploration of Davis\u2019s storied life and career, told through the jazz icon\u2019s own words.<\/p>\n

Chisholm and Z2 had previously collaborated on several jazz-themed books, including Chasin\u2019 the Bird<\/em>, a graphic novel about Charlie Parker, which piqued the interest of Davis\u2019s son, Erin. As Erin Davis writes in the foreword to Chisholm\u2019s latest book, \u201cI was completely drawn in by Dave\u2019s approach to Bird\u2019s story.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin Davis was connected with Z2 to explore the idea of a similar book about his father. When the project got under way, Chisholm spent several months researching and scripting the story, and nine or so months more creating the artwork. Erin Davis and Miles’s nephew, Vincent, provided Chisholm some additional insights along the way, with Vincent sharing recollections of visits to see “Uncle Miles” in New York City.<\/p>\n

The title of the book alludes to Davis\u2019s lifelong quest for sound. Raised in East St. Louis, Illinois, he made visits to see extended family in rural Arkansas. There, he was captivated by the sounds of blues, gospel, and honky-tonk coming from the homes he walked by. Those early experiences sparked Davis\u2019s relentless innovation in the pursuit of \u201cthat\u201d sound, Chisholm explains.<\/p>\n

Later in life, after Davis suffered a debilitating stroke that left his right hand temporarily paralyzed, his doctor handed him a pencil, encouraging him to draw as a form of therapy to regain hand strength. \u201cThe pencil gave him another voice,\u201d says Chisholm.<\/p>\n

In his foreword, Erin Davis tells how Miles\u2019s capacity for expressing himself through his artwork grew. \u201cHe went deep into sketching with pencils, pens, and light markers, eventually filling up dozens (maybe hundreds) of sketchbooks,\u201d he writes. \u201cTo me, his fine-line work really has its own identity that speaks to the viewer like his trumpet and his music speak to the listener.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chisholm has a similar, innate grasp of the connection between visual and sound art. He adapted his artistic style to mirror the diverse phases of Davis\u2019s music, as chronicled in the narrative.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”25px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\"Dave

Dave Chisholm \u201913E (DMA)<\/p><\/div>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\"Front[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”25px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”25px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”]

<\/i><\/span>
My goal was to have the artwork in total\u2014the linework, the colors, the page layouts, and the storytelling itself\u2014reflect specific aspects of the music from each phase of Davis\u2019s restless career.``<\/span><\/h6><\/blockquote>[vc_empty_space height=”25px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”25px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]For the text, Chisholm drew from a wealth of published interviews and Davis\u2019s autobiography. Davis\u2019s unapologetic and candid self-portrayal inspired Chisholm to use the icon\u2019s own words, allowing readers to delve into Davis\u2019s intricate character. \u201cDavis was such a complicated person, gifted musically but with his share of personal challenges,\u201d Chisholm says.<\/p>\n

If Davis could have read the book, Chisholm would like to think he would have appreciated seeing his candor reflected. And what does Chisholm hope readers take away? \u201cIf readers put down this novel and then want to learn more about Miles Davis and jazz music, I\u2019d be happy.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”25px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” use_row_as_full_screen_section_slide=”no” text_align=”left” background_color=”#e9e5d7″ css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column_inner][vc_empty_space height=”25px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\"PaintingExplore the music of Miles Davis<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Dave Chisholm suggests these tunes for a sampling of Davis\u2019s diverse musical range:<\/p>\n