Miles Davis
Kind of Blue: Legacy Edition
Columbia/Legacy
By David Chiu
Released exactly 50 years ago this year, Kind of Blue is a cornerstone work not only in jazz but also in music in general. And the group behind the record was a virtual super group: Cannonball Adderley, John Coltrane, and Bill Evans along with Jimmy Cobb, Paul Chambers and Wynton Kelly. You would be hard pressed not to find something beautiful and sublime throughout the original album’s five tracks, from the bluesy bop of “So What,” with its recognizable melody, through the subdued grace of “Blue in Green” and “Flamenco Sketches.” For fans of Kind of Blue longing for some additional music from the era, this special edition of the album features studio sequences of tracks; and a second disc of additional songs recorded around the Kind of Blue sessions and a live performance of “So What.” Those looking for an introduction to jazz or those who never cared much about the genre should seek this essential album as a starting point. Kind of Blue is a classic that never gets old from repeated listening.
A clip of Miles Davis’ “So What”
NewBeats 