Caropop

Vince Wilburn Jr. was growing up on Chicago’s South Side when his mother would get him all dressed up because his Uncle Miles Davis was coming to town. Sometimes they'd see the brilliant trumpeter perform, including at the tiny Plugged Nickel club in Old Town. By the 1980s, Wilburn was playing drums in Davis’ band and helping produce his albums. Wilburn now performs in Miles Electric Band (MEB) and co-manages Davis' estate, which is overseeing the Miles Davis 100 campaign to mark his uncle's 100th birthday. One major release is The Complete Live at the Plugged Nickel 1965, a 10-LP/eight-CD box set covering a legendary live engagement by Davis and his “second great quintet” (drummer Tony Williams, pianist Herbie Hancock, tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter and bassist Ron Carter). Wilburn reflects on the band’s wildly experimental approach those nights, as well as what it was like to be Davis’ nephew and how he’s keeping his uncle’s legacy alive.