Early life
Miles was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on May 9, 1963. His parents, Fay Downey Miles and Jane Miles worked for the United States federal civil service, federal civil service. The family relocated to Denver, Colorado, when he was eleven, partly because his parents thought the mountain climate would be better for his asthma. He began learning the trumpet during this time at a summer music program. He attended East High School (Denver, Colorado), Denver East High School, where he played in its jazz combo together with Don Cheadle. After graduating, Miles initially studied electrical engineering at the University of Denver. However, he eventually switched his major to music and transferred to the University of Colorado Boulder, where he first met Fred Hess. Miles won a classical competition at the International Brass Clinic hosted by Indiana University Bloomington. This enabled him to earn a scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, where he obtained a master's degree.Career
Miles's debut album, ''Distance for Safety'', was released in 1987. Two years later, he distributed his second album titled ''Witness''. He toured with the Mercer Ellington Orchestra during this time and went to Italy with ''Sophisticated Ladies'' in 1992. He also received national recognition playing with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Ginger Baker, and the Bill Frisell Quartet. His third album, ''My Cruel Heart'' (1996), saw him delve into his unique flair of modern creative jazz combined with rock influences. He also collaborated with Bill Frisell that year on the latter's album ''Quartet (Bill Frisell album), Quartet''. The two teamed up again the following year on Miles's album ''Woman's Day'', which was influenced by grunge and post-rock. Miles recorded a total of twelve solo albums throughout his 35-year career. His final album, ''Rainbow Sign'', was released in 2020 and was his first with Blue Note Records. He wrote the album as a tribute to his father, who died in 2018, and recorded it with Frisell (guitar), Jason Moran (musician), Jason Moran (piano), Thomas Morgan (bassist), Thomas Morgan (bass), and Brian Blade (drums). The quintet – which started performing together in 2016 – later became the first ensemble to play in front of an audience at the Village Vanguard after 18 months of lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, COVID-19 pandemic. Miles became one of Denver's most prominent jazz musicians, but only started receiving national acclaim towards the end of his career. Bret Saunders, a jazz columnist for ''The Denver Post'' and a friend of Miles, surmised that he could have had a more renowned career had he not decided to remain in Denver. Miles joined the Metropolitan State University of Denver during the late 1990s. He taught there as a professor of music, and eventually became director of its Jazz Studies program.Personal life
He was married to Kari Miles and together they had two children, Justice and Honor. Miles died on the evening of March 8, 2022, at his home in Denver from complications of polycythemia vera, a rare form of blood cancer.Discography
As leader
* ''Distance for Safety'' (Prolific, 1987) * ''Witness'' (As sideman
With Bill Frisell * 1996: ''Quartet (Bill Frisell album), Quartet'' (Nonesuch Records, Nonesuch) * 1999: ''The Sweetest Punch'' (Decca, 1999) with Elvis Costello * 2001: ''Blues Dream'' (Nonesuch) * 2007: ''Floratone'' (Blue Note) with Floratone * 2008: ''History, Mystery'' (Nonesuch) * 2012: ''Floratone II'' (Savoy Jazz) with Floratone With Fred Hess * 2002: ''The Long and Short of It'' (Tapestry) * 2004: ''Crossed Paths'' (Tapestry) * 2006: ''How Bout' Now'' (Tapestry) * 2007: ''In the Grotto'' (Alison) * 2008: ''Single Moment'' (Alison) With others * 1999: Ginger Baker and the DJQ2O, ''Coward of the County'' (Atlantic Records, Atlantic) * 2003: Joe Henry, ''Tiny Voices'' (ANTI-) * 2006: Wayne Horvitz, ''Way Out East'' (Songlines) * 2007: Jason Steele, ''Some Wonderful Moment'' (ears&eyes) * 2008: Rich Lamb, ''Music Along the Way'' (Rich Lamb) * 2009: Ben Goldberg, ''Go Home'' (BAG Production) * 2009: Hashem Assadullahi, Strange Neighbor (8Bells) * 2013: Aakash Mittal, Ocean (self) * 2012: Hashem Assadullahi, Pieces (OA2) * 2015: Whirlpool, ''Dancing on the Inside'' (ears&eyes) * 2017: Jason Moran (musician), Jason Moran, ''BANGS'' (Yes Records) * 2017: Matt Wilson (jazz drummer), Matt Wilson, Honey & Salt (Palmetto) * 2018: Joshua Redman, ''Still Dreaming (Joshua Redman album), Still Dreaming'' (Nonesuch) * 2022: Charles Rumback ''Seven Bridges''References
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