Laufey and Lexus: Honoring the Legacy of Miles Davis through ‘100 Miles’

100 years ago in 1926, one of the most acclaimed trumpeters and composers in American Jazz history was born in Alton, Illinois. His name is Miles Davis, whose influential career lasted more than five decades from the 1940s to the 1990s – inventing, reinventing, reinvigorating and reinterpreting a wide-ranging genre of jazz for the American audience, including bebop, cool jazz, modal jazz, avant-garde jazz and sometimes a harmonious combination of these genres. 

In remembrance of the Jazz icon, two-time Grammy-winning Icelandic-Chinese jazz pop artist Laufey shaped the night into an unforgettable sensation during an exclusive musical event on March 27th, 2026. The one and only musical event with Laufey, sponsored by Lexus and titled “100 Miles,” was also live-streamed for the global fans on her official Twitch channel. 

Laufey, whose musical style also reflects the sentiments of iconic classical Jazz artists – including the melancholic voice of Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, along with bold solo instrumental work like that of Chet Baker – has remarkably cultivated a performance that is nostalgically timeless yet distinctly contemporary. Truly, the perfect musician to honor the legacy of Miles Davis for the commemoration. 

Although Laufey’s performance featured a concise setlist of 6 songs, Laufey’s performance was brimming with exuberance, as she wholeheartedly delivered the scent of melancholic jazz for the audience. Starting the night off, Laufey charmingly walked onto the stage as her orchestra started playing Clockwork and Lover Girl – gentle swing jazz songs from her latest Grammy-winning album, A Matter of Time, complemented with Laufey’s witty and playful vocal delivery. 

The night continued with Laufey’s swing jazz and bebop renditions of her fan favorite dreamy jazz-pop songs – including “Valentine,” “Fragile” and “While You Were Sleeping.” As for the finale, Laufey delivered a cover performance of Miles Davis’ song, “Blue in Green.” While maintaining the sentimental melody of Miles Davis’ song, Laufey reimagined the piece with her personalized lyrics about a heart-wrenching experience after a breakup – an intimate theme in which Laufey consistently reflected on throughout her discography. 

Another memorable highlight of the evening included a gorgeous display of Laufey’s custom electric car designed by Lexus. Laufey’s custom car reflected the sentimental nature of Miles Davis’ “Blue in Green” with the car’s dark metallic blue exterior, along with a dark red velvet colored cushion interior. Just like a plush inside a cello case, the custom car’s interior seemed to have subtly illustrated Laufey’s musicianship in both cello and piano.    

All in all, Laufey’s performance was concise yet extremely personal while reflecting not only the legacy of Miles Davis but also the conventions and practices of classical jazz. By reimagining the work of Miles Davis with her own voice, Laufey’s performance perhaps reflected how traditional jazz songs could be appreciated and interpreted through a contemporary lens as well.   

* Laufey’s cover performance of “Blue In Green” is Exclusively Available on Amazon Music, and this event was sponsored by Lexus and live-streamed on Twitch. 

Set list:

1. Clockwork  
2. Lover Girl  
3. Valentine  
4. Fragile
5. While You Were Sleeping 
6. Blue in Green (Miles Davis Cover Song)