Kind of Blue

Kind of Blue is a 1959 album by jazz musician Miles Davis (see 1959 in music).

Influence

Kind of Blue is not only regarded as one of Davis's masterworks, but one of the most influential albums in the history of jazz. One reviewer has called it "a record generally considered as the definitive jazz album, a universally acknowledged standard of excellence." http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hx68mpnd9f8o~T1

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ashley Kahn said in his book, Kind of Blue: The Making of a Miles Davis Masterpiece, ?Still acknowledged as the height of hip four decades after it was recorded, Kind of Blue is the premier album of its era, jazz or otherwise. Its vapory piano introduction is universally recognized? (Kahn 16). Quincy Jones, one of Davis' longtime friends, wrote, ?That ' will always be my music, man. I play Kind of Blue every day ? it?s my orange juice. It still sounds like it was made yesterday? (Kahn 19). Chick Corea, one of Miles? acolytes, was also struck by its majesty. He said, ?It?s one thing to just play a tune, or play a program of music, but it?s another thing to practically create a new language of music, which is what Kind of Blue did? (Kahn 19).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

One significant aspect of Kind of Blue is that the entire record, not just one song, was revolutionary. Gary Burton noted this occurrence. "It wasn?t just one tune that was a breakthrough, it was the whole record. When new jazz styles come along, the first few attempts to do it are usually kind of shaky. Early Charlie Parker records were like this. But with Kind of Blue all sound like they?re fully into it" (Kahn 179).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Along with perhaps Dave Brubeck's Time Out, Kind of Blue is often recommended as an introductory jazz album, for similar reasons as the Brubeck record: The music is very melodic, and the relaxed "open" quality of the songs makes the improvisation easy for listeners to follow, without sacrificing one iota of brilliance or creativity.

Related Topics:
Dave Brubeck - Time Out - Melodic - Improvisation - Iota

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1997 Kind of Blue was named the 13th greatest album of all time in a 'Music of the Millennium' poll conducted by HMV, Channel 4, The Guardian and Classic FM. In 2003 the TV network VH1 placed it at number 66. VH1's Ashley Kahn has devoted an entire book to the record: Kind of Blue: The Making of the Miles Davis Masterpiece (ISBN 0306810670).

Related Topics:
1997 - HMV - Channel 4 - The Guardian - Classic FM - 2003 - TV network - VH1 - Ashley Kahn

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~