Miles Davis Centennial Celebration At SFJAZZ 2026

The 2026 Miles Davis Centennial Celebration at SFJAZZ marked the first hundred years of the innovator, musician and painter Miles Dewey Davis III. Davis' nephew, producer and Miles Electric Band leader Vince Wilburn Jr. has maintained and directed the influential legacy of Davis for decades. This year, Wilburn introduced several fresh elements to his annual visit to honor his uncle's 100th anniversary. These included a panel discussion of Davis' posthumously released 1992 album doo-bop (Warner Bros.), featuring collaborator and hip-hop producer Easy Mo Bee.

Other evenings showcased new interpretations of the groundbreaking Davis albums Kind of Blue and Sketches of Spain by different combinations of musicians. Artists contributing to this exceptional four-night event included Javon Jackson, Robert Irving III, DJ Logic, Donald Harrison, Lenny White, Munyungo Jackson, Patrice Rushen, Keyon Harrold, Darryl Jackson and others.

Some of the attendees—from family members to Miles Davis alumni musicians—shared their perspectives in their own words on this landmark anniversary.

Vince Wilburn Jr.

Miles Davis' nephew, producer, drummer and Miles Electric Band leader

"I'm gonna talk to you about the celebration for Miles. It's amazing! It's, you know, a vision that we had to bring Uncle Miles' birthday celebration (to SFJAZZ). Well, we had it before a few years ago but this is the hundredth anniversary. The celebration of Miles plus I have these four nights. Thanks to SFJAZZ. Our family is incredibly proud and thankful and it's great to see you (Walter Atkins, All About Jazz). You know, I had tears yesterday (May 20, 2026), when I was so emotional for me, because the love I have from my uncle and his spirit which is present. Tonight was another night. It looked amazing and we have two more to go! Thank you for coming! (My pleasure). All right brother and thank you for listening, the public and all the fans all around the world who supported uncle Miles and still continue to support this music—this great music! Thank you!"

Lenny White

Miles Davis, drummer, Return To Forever

Oh, what do I think of it (Miles Davis Centennial)? It's well deserved! Number one is to be able to be here, and be a part of it. To see the love that the audience gave back was fantastic. I mean, I've been listening to that music all of my life. You know that there are kids that are Beatles fans, who know all the words and all the music by The Beatles. I know Miles Davis. So, to be able to represent and be in a good enough house (SFJAZZ's Miner Auditorium), to be able to do that was really special, very special!"

Donald Harrison  

Saxophonist, MEB

"Miles is an iconic presence in the music world that transcends time and space. Miles left us with an indelible mark that moved music forward. It is great to be part of this (the Miles Davis Centennial) and keeping the ideas that he left the universe alive. Thank you."

Erin Davis

Miles Davis' son, percussionist

"Just think of this Miles Davis celebration we did a couple years ago, but we didn't have the hip-hop night with EZ. What we did was a Miles from India. I said so you know we mix it up a little bit. It's coming out beautiful. This was the second night Fred Goldstein brought it again. I look forward to this many times. I like to see Vincent's MEB band in the Kind of Blue stuff. This is so interesting to me how you orchestrate those larger ensembles down to 10 pieces. It's really cool. Yeah, it was telling."

Patrice Rushen

pianist, MEB

"I had a great time celebrating (the Miles Davis Centennial). So from this point forward, to just know that the music lives on is a beautiful thing. That the music is a big deal. It puts us at least a little closer to his legacy. I didn't know him well, but I have a beautiful picture with him, Alphonso Johnson, Wayne Shorter and myself for years."

Steve Weiss

SFJAZZ

"It's (the Miles Davis Centennial) bringing back a lot of great memories of electric Miles. I feel like my parents would pat me on the back for being here one hundred percent, 'cause it was definitely music from their era and they were fans. They listened to it all the time at home. At the time, I was into different kinds of music but it's sunk in, you know. It gets into your DNA at some point. So yeah, my dad was co-owner of the Blackhawk and his two brothers owned Fantasy Records... so I was kind of connected with that from very an early age."

Jean-Paul Bourelly

MEB guitarist

"It's an honor to be part of 100-year anniversary of Miles Davis, someone so innovative and a part of so many different movements of the music. All we can hope for is that we carry on that legacy not only with the notes, but with the idea of modernity and transformation. Thank you.

Darryl Jones

bassist, Miles Davis, Rolling Stones

"The Centennial for Miles? It's great! I always enjoyed playing with Miles because it's like you often think of yourself. You know, I wish I could play with him now that I know a little bit more. So, this is the next best thing to do. I think it's just amazing, you know, that he would be 100 years old. He'd have a very funny joke for that. Much too, much too funny and risqué for me to say, cause I got one, but I can't tell you (He smiles). I'm very pleased, man. I think I saw the performance last night—the Kind of Blue band and it was amazing man! Patrice Rushen and everybody was just magnificent! And I'm excited now we're gonna be doing more and more gigs this year! So I wanted to celebrate you know, the Centennial and the music. So, I'm excited to be here!"

The 2026 Miles Davis Centennial Celebration at SFJAZZ was a sparkling tribute to the Chief. Vincent Wilburn, the Miles Davis Estate, along with San Francisco's SFJAZZ, presented an invigorating weekend capturing the inspirational spirit of the storied trumpeter Miles Davis and brought it forward. 

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