Topic > Analysis of Miles Davis' Jazz Album "Kind of Blue"

Nowadays, there are many new jazz albums released every year, signing different new and old artists. But there is one that has been considered one of the greatest jazz albums of all time, the one that no one can forget hearing from the first time, that is “Kind of Blue”. The album was released in 1959 by Miles Davis, an American jazz artist, also known as a trumpeter. We say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th century music. Davis had a nearly fifty-year career, which began as a member of saxophonist Charlie Parker's bebop quintet from 1944, until the day of his death, he was always a person with the greatest enthusiasm for jazz music. In his adolescence, instead of pursuing further education, Davis was more interested in his career as a musician in a band. Davis made some of his first recordings in 1945, although Miles was not as developed at that time, his style was already easily recognizable and distinct. In 1959, on August 17, he released "Kind of Blue", with his ensemble sextet, the album that further moved away from the hard bop jazz style of his previous works. "Kind of Blue" was recorded on March 2 and April 22, 1959 at Columbia's 30th Street Studio in New York City, and released on August 17 of that year by Columbia Records, now known as Sony. It was performed by tenor saxophonist John Coltrane, alto saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Jimmy Cobb, pianist Bill Evans appearing on most of the songs. All the musicians would go on to have legendary careers, but it was Coltrane who took Miles's modal model and went further, with spectacular results. No other recording in jazz has come remotely close to acquiring the kind of prestige that “Kind of Blue” has accumulated over the decades. It is an album that has probably been responsible for more conversions of non-believers to the jazz faith than any other, it has been the base station from which countless fans began their jazz journey, and it is an album that stands out in the record collections of devotees of classical, rock, pop and country and western music that otherwise would not give space to jazz house. The first track on the album is "So What", the standard modal jazz song, and I paid attention to the lightness, space and relaxed structure within which an improvised instrument can breathe, I can hear Coltrane moving effortlessly with that tenor saxophone. This framework is given by the genius of Miles Davis and the exquisite performance of Bill Evans on the piano. The second track is "Freddie Freeloader", a much more straightforward blues number, but it's stunning and I can really hear how much fun pianist Wynton Kelly had, providing excellent accompaniment for all the soloists. Cannonball made the most of the changes, with some sentences coming out in a growl. Bill Evans is the star of Blue in Green and, anchored by a commanding bass line, produces a devastatingly subtle sound, which Miles and Coltrane solo in a whisper. The third track is "Blue In Green", composed by both Miles Davis and Bill Evans. Evans opened with a short introduction, followed by Davis' solo. Using a Harmon mute, his horn was to me like a wounded lover in the night. Evans provides a thoughtful interlude and then Coltrane plays an all-too-brief solo that demonstrates what a sweet sound he could make from his saxophone..