He is one of the greats but not neccessarily the greatist...That would be a hard one to call with so many candidates around to choose from...

Thats the best reason i`ve seen to hate him.

Miles was, in my opinion, the best leader. He hired formidable musicians (often totally unknown pre-Miles) and let them play however they liked, with minimal direction on his part.
I have talked with some guys who worked with Miles (John McLaughlin, John Schofield, Dave Liebman) and they all said that although Miles instructions were minimal, they were always very pertinent. (Apparently during the Bitches Brew session all he ever told Chick Corea was "That's too much Chick" or "That's not enough Chick")

But was Miles the greatest jazz player ever ? Once you get to that standard of playing you can name a top hundred players OK, but putting them in any order of excellence would be tough. Miles was a much better trumpet player than a lot of pedants might have given him credit for, but he always took risks so sometimes you hear a fluffed note or two. So what ?

The Miles Davis discography is huge, and so many styles are explored that most people find something they like. (However my friend's uncle threw out all his Miles vinyl records when Bitches Brew came out and never listened to him again - some people take stuff far too seriously !)

I wouldn't go so far as to say Miles was the greatest, to quote an earlier post he was one of the greatest. He could probably be credited for bringing the smooth sound to jazz, comparing him to Coltrane and Bird, who were great themselves.

I didn't but Ill also say that Coltrane got a little glossy and over produced on some tracks, which I have yet to hear from Miles Davis.

But Charlie Parker and Houston Peterson aren't bad either, lets give them some ranking.

B.B King personally, but the choice it up to everybody not just me

I like Miles Davis a bit better than Bird or Coltrane (not taking anything away from them). Gotta also mention Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong.

I'll go with on the Duke...one of the best. I just purchased Jazz Moods by Miles, have to admit it didn't make me want to hit the repeat button.

I actually laughed out loud at that. I agree though, I've never heard anything outstnading by either of them.

I don't see how you can say one musician can be greater than another when the styles and instruments played are different. Miles was great trumpet player and jazz man he schooled and influenced lots of great jazz musicians. If it wasn't for him Weather Report, Return to Forever, et al would not sound the same as they do (and they all didn't play trumpet); but they would still be great jazz musicians because they have the passsion. I love Miles' music to bits, but his he the greateast? I don't know. Maybe I'm yet to hear the greatest until someone else beomes greater.