Kind of Blue

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Kind of Blue; Miles Davis
Topic Started: Aug 21 2009, 09:13 AM (85 Views)
Laughing Gravy	Aug 21 2009, 09:13 AM Post #1
Revered in the UK Posts: 11,069 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: August 31, 2005	Fred Kaplan on the best-selling jazz album of all time, apparently: http://www.slate.com/id/2225336/



JazzGuyy	Aug 21 2009, 11:31 AM Post #2
Balcony Gang, Foist Class Posts: 2,177 Group: Members Member #110 Joined: June 1, 2006	And I have to admit to listening to it most of those 50 years. Is it the greatest jazz album of all time? Maybe. I can think of some other worthy candidates. The one thing that he points out and that distinguishes it is that it doesn't turn off too many people like a lot of jazz recordings do to people who are not aficianados. I have to say it is not my favorite Miles Davis album. I like the stuff he did with Gil Evans ("Sketches of Spain" and "Porgy and Bess" particularly) better. The album, by the way, still apparently sells 100,000 or so copies a year. I don't think there is any rock 'n' roll album from 50 years ago that still sells like that, though Presley's various stuff from this time probably collectively exceeds that number. Beatles, Stones and some other albums from a half-dozen or so years later will of course outsell "Kind of Blue". Edited by JazzGuyy, Aug 21 2009, 11:34 AM.



Laughing Gravy	Aug 21 2009, 01:41 PM Post #3
Revered in the UK Posts: 11,069 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: August 31, 2005	I have "Sketches of Spain" and enjoy it; do not have "Kind of Blue" but this article inspires me to get it. I have "Time Out" by Dave Brubeck and love it but have no idea if jazz afficionados consider that a good album or not.



JazzGuyy	Aug 21 2009, 03:27 PM Post #4
Balcony Gang, Foist Class Posts: 2,177 Group: Members Member #110 Joined: June 1, 2006	Laughing Gravy Aug 21 2009, 01:41 PM I have "Sketches of Spain" and enjoy it; do not have "Kind of Blue" but this article inspires me to get it. I have "Time Out" by Dave Brubeck and love it but have no idea if jazz afficionados consider that a good album or not. Time Out is considered innovative for the odd time signatures. Brubeck is not real high in the pantheon of pianists in jazz since his playing is usually considered too mannered and academic. Paul Desmond, his alto sax player, is another story and is very highly thought of. I am neutral toward Brubeck myself.



Laughing Gravy	Aug 27 2009, 08:43 AM Post #5
Revered in the UK Posts: 11,069 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: August 31, 2005	Mr. Panzer, you got a opinion?



panzer the great & terrible	Aug 27 2009, 10:53 AM Post #6
Mouth Breather Posts: 10,340 Group: Members Member #13 Joined: September 3, 2005	I love that album. Paul Desmond has been one of my heroes since I first heard him at the age of 12. My favorite jazz record of all time, for what it's worth, is Louis Armstrong Meets Oscar Peterson. It's got everything: a rich sense of humor, brilliant improvisations, great songs, and a splendid display of two of the liveliest personalities the popular arts ever produced. Fine drumming too. Perfection, or damn near it. I don't think critics are even aware of the album but quite a few musicians agree with me. The album's been in print for more than 50 years without any help from Nat Hentoff or Rolling Stone.
	We Wear Short Shorts Flying Purple People Eater


Frank Hale	Aug 27 2009, 11:52 AM Post #7
Balcony Gang, Foist Class Posts: 828 Group: Members Member #59 Joined: October 6, 2005	I loved Mr. Brubeck when I was a kid, but he was undeniably square and gradually wore out his welcome, especially when he morphed into bossa nova and classical cantatas (or whatever it was). Brubeck Plays Brubeck and Dave Digs Disney still hold up pretty well for me, but mainly out of nostalgia. I had both the Davis albums cited. I could never connect with Miles and I don�t think I would care to hear them again today. Too cool for the likes of me, no doubt.



panzer the great & terrible	Aug 29 2009, 08:33 AM Post #8
Mouth Breather Posts: 10,340 Group: Members Member #13 Joined: September 3, 2005	I love Miles' last two albums, Amandla and Live Around the World. They hold up better than the 50's Columbias. Miles' best work in the Ozzie and Harriet years was cut for Prestige tho -- nothing all that cool, just good heartfelt melodic playing from all concerned. Two of Brubeck's sons went to music camp in my rural North Carolina town, and you can bet we tried hard to get the three to play together at our annual jazz festival. Brubeck didn't answer our letters though. I'm not of the party that dislikes his work; there's plenty of room for his cerebral kind of playing. As for him being square, I think that's overstating. He was a little geeky, but heck, so was I.
	We Wear Short Shorts Flying Purple People Eater


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