Miles Davis – Kind of Blue

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It is impossible to imagine what Miles Davis would have thought of Kind of Blue: 50th anniversary Collector’s Edition. People close to him described his inability to accept his achievements of the past, describing them as both a source of pride and a burden. In the 1970s, Jimmy Cobb, the legendary drummer of the album he once called having been “made” in heaven, was presented with a rare tape by Kind of Blue shortly before it ended. He immediately shared the tape with his boss. Eric Nisenson, author and critic wrote that Miles refused to open his door and told Jimmy over the intercom to slide it underneath. “Jimmy, who was once close to Miles, is very sensitive, and simply left.”

While Davis gave the impression that he was running away from his distinguished history during his life, the rest of us have been unable to stop raving about it since his death in 1991. While his prolific creativity ended when he was forced to take a break from jazz in 1981, his record career continued as Columbia dug into their archives to release previously unreleased material. It was as if he hadn’t been gone when he returned to record release in 1981.

Beyond Jazz

Its influence has extended beyond jazz. Musicians of other genres, such as classical and rock, have been influenced. Critics have also called it one of the greatest albums ever. [61][62] Many 1960s improvisatory rock musicians referred to Kind of Blue as a source of inspiration. They also cited other Davis albums and Coltrane’s modal records My Favorite Things (1961), and A Love Supreme (1965). Duane Allman, guitarist of the Allman Brothers Band, said that his solo on songs like In Memory of Elizabeth Reed “comes primarily from Miles and Coltrane and especially Kind of Blue. That album has been so cherished that I haven’t listened to any other music in the last couple of years. “[63] Pink Floyd keyboardist Richard Wright stated that the chord progressions of the album had influenced the structure of the opening chords of the song “Breathe”, which was released on the album The Dark Side of the Moon (1973). [64] Ashley Kahn, author of Kind of Blue: A Making of a Miles Davis Masterpiece wrote that Kind of Blue “is still acknowledged as the peak of hip, forty decades after it was originally recorded, Kind of Blue remains the premier album of its era. Its introduction with a vapory piano is well-known. [65] Quincy Jones, a longtime friend of Davis, wrote that Kind of Blue would always be his music. Kind of Blue is my orange juice. I listen to it every day. It sounds as if it was just yesterday. Chick Corea, a pianist and one of Miles’s acolytes was also struck by the majesty of it. She later stated that “It’s one to play a tune or play a program of musical music. But it’s quite another to literally create a new language of musical music. This is what Kind of Blue did.”

 

After his death in 1991 there was a feeling of déjà vu. Columbia began a major reissue series, carefully packaged boxes sets of key Davis sessions. Each box-set, which are highly sought after collector’s items, was released in a series that included Miles Davis/Gil Evans: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings (Volume 1 in 1996) and the final The Complete On the Corner Sessions (8th in 2007).

1959 – The Era of Changes

It doesn’t seem like 1959 is a different world. Instead, it feels more like 1959 in a faraway galaxy. The year 1959 was the year that US Top Twenty songs were songs such as ‘Kookie Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb’ by Edd Byrnes or Connie Stevens, which reached No. Freddy Cannon’s ‘Tallahassie Lassie,’ which reached No. 3. ‘Dream Lover,’ Bobby Darin that reached No. 2, “Lipstick On Your Collar” by Connie Francis, that was No. 5, while Chipmunks’ Ragtime Cowboy Joe was No. 9 spent a total 16 weeks on chart.

 

These are the Top Tracks of the Legend

1. “So What”

2. “Freddie Freeloader”

3. “Blue in Green”

4. “All Blues”

5. “Flamenco Sketches”

6. “Freddie Freeloader”

7. “Fran-Dance”

Kurz bio

Publication: August 17, 1959

Recorded March 2, 1959 and April 22, 1960

Studio Columbia 30th Street (New York City)

Genre jazz

Irving Townsend, Producer