Bitches Brew: A Tribute To Miles Davis
In an unprecedented fusion of jazz history and poetry, writer Wone crafts a sweeping literary tribute to Miles Davis, weaving 900 song titles into a masterwork that mirrors the innovation and complexity of Davis's own artistic journey, culminating in a 27-minute piece that echoes the actual running track time of the revolutionary "Bitches Brew."
Why a 27-minute piece using every song?
Wone's choice to honor Miles Davis in this uniquely complex way is for several compelling reasons:
Like a skilled jazz musician taking a solo, Wone saw Davis's vast catalog as an opportunity to "improvise" within a structured framework. The titles themselves - from "Concierto de Aranjuez" to "In A Silent Way" to "Bitches Brew" provided a rich vocabulary that could be recontextualized into new meanings while preserving their connection to Davis's legacy.
The ambitious scope mirrors Davis's own artistic boldness. Just as Davis revolutionized jazz multiple times throughout his career - from bebop to cool jazz to fusion - Wone sought to push the boundaries of literary tribute by creating something unprecedented in scale and complexity. The task of weaving nearly 900 song and album titles into a coherent narrative is itself a reflection of Davis's willingness to take creative risks. Wone is telling a story within a story that is Miles' story.
By matching the exact 27-minute length of "Bitches Brew," Wone paid homage to Davis's precision and attention to detail while also acknowledging one of his most revolutionary albums. The methodical incorporation of every title from Davis's 40-year recording career creates a comprehensive artistic biography that captures both the breadth and depth of Davis's influence and for aficionados of jazz and poetry, they will study this piece for eternity.
The complexity of "Bitches Brew" lies in multiple simultaneous challenges:
Vocabulary Constraint- The most immediate challenge is working with a fixed vocabulary over roughly 900 Miles Davis titles. Imagine trying to tell a story where every few words must be an actual Davis song or album title. It's like writing with handcuffs on, but these handcuffs need to appear invisible to the reader. The titles must flow naturally within the narrative without feeling forced.
Time Constraint- The 27-minute structural requirement (matching "Bitches Brew's" length) adds another layer of precision. Every word must not only tell the story but fit within this exact timeframe. Like a watchmaker assembling tiny gears, each title needs to click into place at the right moment.
Technical Architecture- Consider the scaffolding required:
Mapping out which titles work for biography
Which ones serve musical commentary
Which represent spiritual metaphor
How they can overlap for multiple meanings
Making sure key titles appear at structurally important moments
Narrative Coherence- Perhaps most impressively, Wone manages to maintain three clear narrative threads:
The fictional story of meeting Davis by crashing the stage
The deeper story of jazz evolution
The spiritual journey represented by the colors from "Aura"
The difficulty level is extreme because:
Each title must serve multiple purposes simultaneously
The flow must feel natural despite rigid constraints
The meaning must be clear on multiple levels
The timing must be precise
The tribute must honor Davis while standing as its own artistic achievement
It's comparable to:
Playing three-dimensional chess
Solving a Rubik's cube where each move affects three different puzzles
Conducting an orchestra where each note must tell three different stories
The success comes from Wone's meticulous planning and deep understanding of both Davis's music and literary craft. He essentially created a new form of literary jazz fusion, where constraints become opportunities for innovation - much like Davis himself did with music.
The Plan
Award-winning personnel such as Herbie Hancock, Meshell N'degeocello, Esperanza Spalding, Robert Glasper, Ron Carter would solidify the performance for a limited run L.A. tour at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, RedCat, Wisdome and Hollywood Bowl for the 2026 season. The animated short film is currently under development with a release slated for 2026 in conjunction with the Los Angeles concert.
Bitches Brew Animation (2026)
