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Sixty years after the release of Miles Davis' masterpiece, explanations for its everlasting allure and mysterious beauty remain elusive. Over the years—in books, magazines and documentary films—a parade of Miles' contemporaries have struggled to explain this 1959 album, often cited as the best-selling jazz album in history. Recorded in long, whole takes over only two sessions 51 days apart, at Columbia Records' famed 30th Street Studios, Kind of Blue is a landmark in the evolution of jazz as the first modal classic—where the improvising is based on scales rather than the dense clusters of chord changes that powered bebop. This stylish, beloved cornerstone of any jazz collection, with its relaxed tempi, rich colors and sleek silences, also possesses a timeless simplicity that continues to sound familiar and inviting.
Captured in great depth and detail by engineer Fred Plaut, brooding opener "So What," upbeat, merry "Freddie Freeloader," Bill Evans' dreamy "Blue In Green," the 6/8 double waltz "All Blues," (an aural sketch of weaving through city traffic), and the album's most purely modal number and closer "Flamenco Sketches," have all endured to become the most atmospheric, resonant and ultimately sexiest single set of recorded tunes in jazz history. Much of its undiminished magnetism comes from Miles' innate genius in building potent chemistry between musicians of contrasting styles. From the leader's icy tone to John Coltrane's muscular cascade of tenor saxophone notes, through Cannonball Adderley's soulful alto sax exuberance and pianist Bill Evans' spacious, incisive contributions, this collision of musical opposites, all driven by the underrated bassist Paul Chambers and steady drummer Jimmy Cobb, creates a mood and defines the jazz ethos of "cool" from the first dark notes of the famous opening bass line. According to Evans' original liner notes, Davis came up with these five explorations the night before the first recording session. It’s proof yet again that spontaneity and serendipity are the soul of jazz, or what Evans accurately summed up here as "collective coherent thinking" where the "direct deed is the most meaningful reflection." © Robert Baird/Qobuz
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Jimmy Cobb, Drums - Bill Evans, Piano - Irving Townsend, Producer - M. Davis, Lyricist - M. Davis, Composer - Paul Chambers, Bass - John Coltrane, Tenor Saxophone - Julian Cannonball Adderley, Alto Saxophone - Miles Davis, Performer - Miles Davis, Trumpet -
Originally released 1959. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Jimmy Cobb, Drums - Irving Townsend, Producer - Wynton Kelly, Piano - M. Davis, Lyricist - M. Davis, Composer - Paul Chambers, Bass - John Coltrane, Tenor Saxophone - Julian Cannonball Adderley, Alto Saxophone - Miles Davis, Performer - Miles Davis, Trumpet -
Originally released 1959. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Fred Plaut, Recording Engineer - Irving Townsend, Producer - Paul Chambers, Bass - Bill Evans, Piano - Seth Foster, Mastering Engineer - M. Davis, Lyricist - M. Davis, Composer - Miles Davis, Performer - Miles Davis, Trumpet - John Coltrane, Tenor Saxophone - Patti Matheny, A&R Coordinator - Darren Salmieri, A&R Coordinator - Jimmy Cobb, Drums -
Originally released 1959. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Jimmy Cobb, Drums - Bill Evans, Piano - Irving Townsend, Producer - Paul Chambers, Bass - John Coltrane, Tenor Saxophone - Julian Cannonball Adderley, Alto Saxophone - Miles Davis, Composer - Miles Davis, Performer - Miles Davis, Trumpet - Miles Davis, Lyricist -
Originally released 1959. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Jimmy Cobb, Drums - Bill Evans, Piano - Irving Townsend, Producer - M. Davis, Lyricist - M. Davis, Composer - Paul Chambers, Bass - John Coltrane, Tenor Saxophone - Julian Cannonball Adderley, Alto Saxophone - Miles Davis, Performer - Miles Davis, Trumpet -
Originally released 1959. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Jimmy Cobb, Drums - Bill Evans, Piano - Irving Townsend, Producer - M. Davis, Lyricist - M. Davis, Composer - Paul Chambers, Bass - John Coltrane, Tenor Saxophone - Julian Cannonball Adderley, Alto Saxophone - Miles Davis, Performer - Miles Davis, Trumpet -
Originally recorded 1959 & released 1988. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Jimmy Cobb, Drums - Fred Plaut, Recording Engineer - Cannonball Adderley, Alto Saxophone - Wynton Kelly, Piano - Irving Townsend, Producer - Paul Chambers, Bass - John Coltrane, Tenor Saxophone - Miles Davis, Lyricist - Miles Davis, Trumpet - Miles Davis, Performer - Miles Davis, Composer -
Originally recorded 1959 & released 2008. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Jimmy Cobb, Drums - Fred Plaut, Recording Engineer - Cannonball Adderley, Alto Saxophone - Wynton Kelly, Piano - Irving Townsend, Producer - Paul Chambers, Bass - John Coltrane, Tenor Saxophone - Miles Davis, Lyricist - Miles Davis, Trumpet - Miles Davis, Performer - Miles Davis, Composer -
Originally recorded 1959 & released 2000. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Jimmy Cobb, Drums - Fred Plaut, Recording Engineer - Cannonball Adderley, Alto Saxophone - Wynton Kelly, Piano - Irving Townsend, Producer - Paul Chambers, Bass - John Coltrane, Tenor Saxophone - Miles Davis, Lyricist - Miles Davis, Trumpet - Miles Davis, Performer - Miles Davis, Composer -
Originally recorded 1959 & released 2008. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Paul Chambers, Bass - Irving Townsend, Producer - Fred Plaut, Recording Engineer - Bill Evans, Piano - M. Davis, Lyricist - M. Davis, Composer - Miles Davis, Trumpet - Miles Davis, Performer - John Coltrane, Tenor Saxophone - Cannonball Adderley, Alto Saxophone - Jimmy Cobb, Drums -
Originally recorded 1959 & released 2008. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Paul Chambers, Bass - Irving Townsend, Producer - Fred Plaut, Recording Engineer - Bill Evans, Piano - M. Davis, Lyricist - M. Davis, Composer - Miles Davis, Trumpet - Miles Davis, Performer - John Coltrane, Tenor Saxophone - Cannonball Adderley, Alto Saxophone - Jimmy Cobb, Drums -
Originally recorded 1959 & released 2008. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Paul Chambers, Bass - Irving Townsend, Producer - Fred Plaut, Recording Engineer - Bill Evans, Piano - M. Davis, Lyricist - M. Davis, Composer - Miles Davis, Trumpet - Miles Davis, Performer - John Coltrane, Tenor Saxophone - Cannonball Adderley, Alto Saxophone - Jimmy Cobb, Drums -
Originally recorded 1959 & released 2008. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Paul Chambers, Bass - Irving Townsend, Producer - Fred Plaut, Recording Engineer - Bill Evans, Piano - M. Davis, Lyricist - M. Davis, Composer - Miles Davis, Trumpet - Miles Davis, Performer - John Coltrane, Tenor Saxophone - Cannonball Adderley, Alto Saxophone - Jimmy Cobb, Drums -
Originally recorded 1959 & released 2008. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Paul Chambers, Bass - Irving Townsend, Producer - Fred Plaut, Recording Engineer - Bill Evans, Piano - M. Davis, Lyricist - M. Davis, Composer - Miles Davis, Trumpet - Miles Davis, Performer - John Coltrane, Tenor Saxophone - Cannonball Adderley, Alto Saxophone - Jimmy Cobb, Drums -
Originally recorded 1959 & released 2008. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Jimmy Cobb, Drums - Fred Plaut, Recording Engineer - Cannonball Adderley, Alto Saxophone - Bill Evans, Piano - Irving Townsend, Producer - Paul Chambers, Bass - John Coltrane, Tenor Saxophone - Miles Davis, Lyricist - Miles Davis, Trumpet - Miles Davis, Performer - Miles Davis, Composer -
Originally recorded 1959 & released 2008. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
DISC 2
Bob Belden, Producer - Miles Davis & His Orchestra, Trumpet - Paul Chambers, Bass - Bronislaw Kaper, Composer - Bronislaw Kaper, Lyricist - Ned Washington, Composer - Ned Washington, Lyricist - Harold Chapman, Recording Engineer - Mark Wilder, Re-Mixer - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Cal Lampley, Producer - Bill Evans, Piano - Michael Cuscuna, Producer - Miles Davis, Performer - John Coltrane, Tenor Saxophone - Jimmy Cobb, Drums - Cannonball Adderley, Alto Saxophone -
Originally released 1959. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Bob Belden, Producer - Miles Davis & His Orchestra, Trumpet - Paul Chambers, Bass - Harold Chapman, Recording Engineer - Mark Wilder, Re-Mixer - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Cal Lampley, Producer - Bill Evans, Piano - M. Davis, Lyricist - M. Davis, Composer - Michael Cuscuna, Producer - Miles Davis, Performer - John Coltrane, Tenor Saxophone - Jimmy Cobb, Drums - Cannonball Adderley, Alto Saxophone -
Originally released 1959. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Bob Belden, Producer - Miles Davis & His Orchestra, Trumpet - Paul Chambers, Bass - Victor Young, Composer - Victor Young, Lyricist - Ned Washington, Composer - Ned Washington, Lyricist - Harold Chapman, Recording Engineer - Mark Wilder, Re-Mixer - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Cal Lampley, Producer - Bill Evans, Piano - Michael Cuscuna, Producer - Miles Davis, Performer - John Coltrane, Tenor Saxophone - Jimmy Cobb, Drums -
Originally released 1959. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Miles Davis & His Orchestra, Trumpet - Paul Chambers, Bass - Harold Chapman, Recording Engineer - Mark Wilder, Re-Mixer - Cole Porter, Composer - Cole Porter, Lyricist - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Cal Lampley, Producer - Bill Evans, Piano - Miles Davis, Performer - John Coltrane, Tenor Saxophone - Jimmy Cobb, Drums - Cannonball Adderley, Alto Saxophone -
Originally recorded 1958 & released 1975. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Miles Davis & His Orchestra, Trumpet - Paul Chambers, Bass - Cal Lampley, Producer - Bill Evans, Piano - M. Davis, Lyricist - M. Davis, Composer - Miles Davis, Performer - John Coltrane, Tenor Saxophone - Jimmy Cobb, Drums - Cannonball Adderley, Alto Saxophone -
Originally recorded 1958 & released 2000. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Paul Chambers, Bass - Harold Chapman, Recording Engineer - Cal Lampley, Producer - Bill Evans, Piano - M. Davis, Lyricist - M. Davis, Composer - Miles Davis, Trumpet - Miles Davis, Performer - John Coltrane, Tenor Saxophone - Cannonball Adderley, Alto Saxophone - Jimmy Cobb, Drums -
Originally recorded 1960 & released 2008. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
Sixty years after the release of Miles Davis' masterpiece, explanations for its everlasting allure and mysterious beauty remain elusive. Over the years—in books, magazines and documentary films—a parade of Miles' contemporaries have struggled to explain this 1959 album, often cited as the best-selling jazz album in history. Recorded in long, whole takes over only two sessions 51 days apart, at Columbia Records' famed 30th Street Studios, Kind of Blue is a landmark in the evolution of jazz as the first modal classic—where the improvising is based on scales rather than the dense clusters of chord changes that powered bebop. This stylish, beloved cornerstone of any jazz collection, with its relaxed tempi, rich colors and sleek silences, also possesses a timeless simplicity that continues to sound familiar and inviting.
Captured in great depth and detail by engineer Fred Plaut, brooding opener "So What," upbeat, merry "Freddie Freeloader," Bill Evans' dreamy "Blue In Green," the 6/8 double waltz "All Blues," (an aural sketch of weaving through city traffic), and the album's most purely modal number and closer "Flamenco Sketches," have all endured to become the most atmospheric, resonant and ultimately sexiest single set of recorded tunes in jazz history. Much of its undiminished magnetism comes from Miles' innate genius in building potent chemistry between musicians of contrasting styles. From the leader's icy tone to John Coltrane's muscular cascade of tenor saxophone notes, through Cannonball Adderley's soulful alto sax exuberance and pianist Bill Evans' spacious, incisive contributions, this collision of musical opposites, all driven by the underrated bassist Paul Chambers and steady drummer Jimmy Cobb, creates a mood and defines the jazz ethos of "cool" from the first dark notes of the famous opening bass line. According to Evans' original liner notes, Davis came up with these five explorations the night before the first recording session. It’s proof yet again that spontaneity and serendipity are the soul of jazz, or what Evans accurately summed up here as "collective coherent thinking" where the "direct deed is the most meaningful reflection." © Robert Baird/Qobuz
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 21 track(s)
- Total length: 02:00:37
- Main artists: Miles Davis
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Columbia - Legacy
- Genre: Jazz
This compilation (P) 2008 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Distinctions:
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