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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
This is the one jazz record owned by people who don't listen to jazz, and with good reason. The band itself is extraordinary (proof of Miles Davis's masterful casting skills, if not of God's existence), listing John Coltrane and Julian "Cannonball" Adderley on saxophones, Bill Evans (or, on "Freddie Freeloader", Wynton Kelly) on piano, and the crack rhythm unit of Paul Chambers on bass and Jimmy Cobb on drums. Coltrane's astringency on tenor is counterpoised to Adderley's funky self on alto, with Davis moderating between them as Bill Evans conjures up a still lake of sound on which they walk. Meanwhile, the rhythm partnership of Cobb and Chambers is prepared to click off time until eternity. It was the key recording of what became modal jazz, a music free of the fixed harmonies and forms of pop songs. In Davis's men's hands it was a weightless music, but one that refused to fade into the background. In retrospect every note seems perfect, and each piece moves inexorably towards its destiny. --John Szwed
Review
Long held as the jazz album that even non-jazz fans will own, Kind Of Blue not only changed the way people regarded Miles, it changed the very face of music itself. Consistently rated not just as one of the greatest jazz albums but as one of THE greatest musical statements of the 20th century, its 46 minutes of improvisation and sophistication remain peerless.
In the early 50s George Russell had raised the possibility of using a modal approach (i.e. playing within a certain scale, as opposed to according to a fixed chord sequence) as a way out of the straightjacket that restricted improvisation. Miles, at this time, was in thrall to hard bop, but by 1958's Milestones he was ready to try the modal approach, the title track being his first recorded foray into the form.
Kind Of Blue, released the following year, took the idea and developed it to an astounding degree. Its smoky evocation of late night ambience is a byword for laid back elegance. It uses the blues but transmutes those seventh chords into something that still sounds modern 50 years on. Quite simply, the sonic space it creates sounds like the coolest place on the planet.
Key to the album's deceptive ease is the band that Miles had assembled. Honed to perfection were the sextet of saxophonists John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley, drummer Jimmy Cobb, bassist Paul Chambers and pianist Bill Evans (replacing regular Wynton Kelly on all but one track - "Freddy Freeloader"). All players were to have legendary careers, but it was Coltrane who took Miles' modal template and went furthest with it, with spectacular results.
Dispute still rages as to the role Evans had in the compositions (many regard him as at least a co-author, and he was an acolyte of George Russell's) but what we do know is that on the two recording dates that spawned this masterpiece, Davis, as usual, just laid out the song structures for the musicians on the day with no rehearsal (though "So What" and "All Blues" had been played live prior to this). From the opening murmur of the piano on "So What" to the final sad mute on "Flamenco Sketches", it never falters, despite its meandering pace. Even more miraculous, it never wears thin from repeat plays. Quincy Jones claims to play it every day. So should you. --Chris Jones
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
101 of 103 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Just browsing through the Miles Davis products the other day, I was amazed to see that the average rating for "Kind of Blue" was only 4.5 stars. Intrigued as to what kind of person does not regard this album as truly exceptional, I scanned the reviews. Those that did not give the album five stars fell broadly into two categories. The first consisted of people who had no jazz records and, having read the reviews, thought this classic would be a good one to start a collection with only to discover that,oops,they don't like jazz.
The second group appeared to be afficianados with a slightly sniffy attitude who view the album as jazz for people who don't really like jazz. There is some truth in that as it is by far the most accesible Miles album to non jazz fans and was my starting point in an apppreciation of jazz and of Miles in particular.
The point of this review is to ask, beseech and implore the reader who does not own this album to ignore these reviews and BUY Kind of Blue immediately. Your life will not be same again.
32 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Referring to "Kind of Blue" as the best jazz album of all time might actually be doing it a disservice. Jazz is one of those complex artforms which many people shy away from, afraid that they will not be able to understand it. So extoling its virtues might frighten people even more. But "Kind of Blue" is simply beautiful music. When listening to it, you forget everything you might feel about jazz, whether good or bad, and can only listen to it, amazed and excited. Miles Davis has created something so powerful yet full of simple, memorable melodies. Every note takes you further into that state where you simply hush up, tell whoever you are with to shut up, and listen. It is certainly not the type of music I would put on when friends come over for a chat. But it is an album which I can listen to, over and over and over again. Definitely something for MUSIC fans.
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This was the first jazz album that I ever bought and not knowing anything about the style, I didn't know what to expect. To say I was pleasantly surprised would be a complete understatement but to say that since that day the only music I've listened to has been jazz (be it Benny Goodman or Jaco Pastorius!) would be about right. From the opening bars of "So What" you know that you're listening to a masterpiece and a piece of history that could never be repeated. The 50 minutes just disappear and I guarantee when it's over you will go and press play again - I have been listening to it for years and I'm still finding new bits that I've missed! There is not one fault to be found with this album - it is pretty perfect...As albums go!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Classic
Not a great Jazz lover, me, I prefer rock and jazz-rock (Weather Report, Mahavishnu etc) at a push. But this... this is what jazz is all about. Just buy it. Just listen. Read more
Published 7 days ago by The Marfalouth
Great great album. But this is a really really crappy "out of...
Make no mistake: If you own just a handful of jazz albums, Miles Davis' Kind of Blue should be among them. Read more
Published 22 days ago by David Pearlman
Excellent introduction to the genre
My ignorance of jazz was almost total until buying this album, to the extent that I only first heard of Miles Davis in the jazz club scene in the film Collateral. Read more
Published 1 month ago by DomB
Best album ever?
I was born the year this album was released and I've been listening to music ever since I can remember. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Dr. M FOLEY
still the coolest music
After over 50 years this is still one of the the coolest albums ever, along with MJQ of course. Totally ageless, smooth & silky. Before he decided to disappear into the ether. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mr. Lawrence Knight
Kind Of Blue - Kind of Great!
This 1959 album is pretty much the apogee of what I consider to Miles Davis' finest period, where he was interested in the modal cool jazz that he had started to pioneer 10 years... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Victor
Great Vinyl to Own
The moment I saw the cover I bought it. I'm a Miles Davis fan, but I don't buy blindly. The moment I received it I just stayed a while enjoying the photograph and the design. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Blue Sound Charlie
Great music
Great music as I expected, but unfortunately the cd arrived opened :(
I bought it as "new".
A really good cd of Miles Davis.
I bought it as "new".
A really good cd of Miles Davis.
Published 2 months ago by attila7575
Fantastic album
I hate to admit it, but I'm new to Miles Davis. I know this is a classic... that's why I've bought it. It has not disappointed me. Great album. Great mood music. Read more
Published 2 months ago by C.S.I.
iconic album
Well what else is there to say but if you are a jazz or Miles fan this is the one album you must have. Read more
Published 3 months ago by norm45
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