Paolo Fresu – Kind of Miles

A sonic, theatrical and emotional journey into the myth of Miles Davis.

Staged at the Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone, Kind of Miles is far more than a performance: it is an act of love, a poetic and visionary statement by Paolo Fresu, who writes, composes and performs a work that evokes the creative universe of one of the most influential musicians of the twentieth century. Produced by the Teatro Stabile di Bolzano, the project is conceived with a clear ambition: to endure over time, embarking on a multi-year tour destined to leave a lasting mark.

At the heart of Kind of Miles stands Miles Davis—the restless genius and pivotal figure of contemporary music who, though he passed away in 1991, remains astonishingly present. Under the direction of Andrea Bernard, Fresu weaves together narration and music in a narrative that retraces Davis’s life, art and human relationships, restoring his complexity, audacity and relentless drive towards the future. This is not a nostalgic tribute, but a living dialogue, looking ahead in the very spirit Miles always embodied.

The dramaturgy, written by Fresu himself, is interlaced with autobiographical fragments: his jazz apprenticeship between the 1970s and 1980s, encounters and discoveries that shaped his artistic path. The narrative unfolds in constant dialogue with original music, performed by an outstanding ensemble:
Bebo Ferra (electric guitar), Christian Meyer (drums), Dino Rubino (piano and Fender Rhodes), Federico Malaman (electric bass), Filippo Vignato (trombone, multi-effects, synth), Marco Bardoscia (double bass) and Stefano Bagnoli (drums). A line-up that brings together acoustic and electric instruments, reflecting the ceaseless sonic exploration of the so-called “Prince of Darkness.”

The stage space comes alive through the visuals by Marco Usuelli and Alexandre Cayuela, a visual project perfectly aligned with Davis’s experimental spirit. Technology becomes an integral part of the performance: biometric and acoustic signals are used to generate elements of the visual narrative in real time, where emotions turn into images and sounds take shape and movement.

Completing the scenic design are the lighting by Marco Alba and the costumes by Elena Beccaro, which elegantly evoke the 1970s, helping to create an atmosphere suspended between memory and the future.

Ultimately, Kind of Miles is an immersive experience—a creative act that celebrates the courage to change, to take risks, and to imagine new worlds. Just as Miles Davis once did. And just as Paolo Fresu continues to do today.