"Miles Davis was doing something inherently African, something that has to do with all forms of American music, not just jazz"

Cassandra Wilson's quote about Miles Davis discuss the extensive and often understated impact of African heritage on American music. When Wilson refers to Davis as "doing something naturally African", she is acknowledging the deep-rooted cultural and musical contributions that African traditions have made to jazz, in addition to the wider American musical landscape.

Miles Davis, a pioneering figure in jazz, was known for his ingenious methods to music, often blurring borders and producing new sounds. Jazz, as a genre, is deeply linked with African musical traditions. The rhythm, improvisation, and call-and-response methods that are hallmarks of jazz have their origins in African music. Davis's work often reflected these aspects, imbuing his music with the emotional complexity that characterizes African musical customs.

Wilson's assertion that what Davis was doing "involves all kinds of American music, not simply jazz" expands the scope of his influence beyond jazz, suggesting that the African heritage inherent in his work resonates throughout various American musical genres such as blues, rock, funk, gospel, and hip-hop. Each of these genres, like jazz, has been shaped significantly by African American musicians, whose cultural origins instilled these designs with special rhythms, melodies, and emotive shipments that are noticeably African in origin.

By highlighting this connection, Wilson motivates a deeper appreciation of the African cultural structure that underlies American music. She recommends that to comprehend the essence of genres like jazz, one must likewise acknowledge and explore their African roots. Miles Davis embodies this confluence of cultural impacts, showing through his music an inherent African quality that serves as a fundamental thread in the rich tapestry of American music. Wilson's statement obstacles listeners and artists alike to recognize and celebrate the African legacy that continues to resonate through the evolution of American music.