Miles Davis, New York City, 1958

This portrait of Miles Davis was taken by Don Hunstein at the 30th Street Studios in New York in July 1958 during the recording of Porgy and Bess. Davis's monumental collaboration with Gil Evans transformed the George Gershwin opera into a cool jazz masterpiece. Davis said that his Porgy and Bess album was one of his all-time personal favorites, as one can see the transcendent satisfaction on his face as he takes a draw from his cigarette and basks in the magic he and Gil have created in the air.