Miles Davis played a central role in several movements within jazz. He was celebrated not only for his virtuosic playing, but above all for his innovative approach. Where many trumpet players tried to impress with speed and high notes, Davis often chose space, silence, and restrained sounds instead. That understated style became a recognisable trademark.

His career spanned several decades, and throughout that time he continually reinvented himself. From refined cool jazz to experimental collaborations with electronic instruments: Davis kept pushing boundaries and rarely allowed himself to be pinned down to a single genre. As a result, he inspired not only jazz musicians, but also artists from rock, soul, and later electronic music.

For a pub quiz, this is a great question because all the other options are also common jazz instruments. The saxophone, piano, and double bass each have a natural home in a classic jazz ensemble, which makes the answer less obvious than it might appear at first glance. A handy memory aid: the trumpet is the instrument that often “sings” the melody above the rest of the band — precisely the role that Davis filled in such a distinctive way.