Abstract
This chapter studies “the creak” that can be heard on Miles Davis's “Old Folks”. This song is part of Davis's album, Someday My Prince Will Come, which has never attracted the attention or rave reviews given to many of his other records. It is this audible creak—heard 1:15 minutes from the start of “Old Folks”—and the ways one might gather some of the meanings revealed and shaped by the creak that are studied here. The chapter also discusses how people listen to, perform, and evaluate jazz.