[The 'Masterpiece' series is a 200 words-or-so look at some of the albums that have changed the way I listen to music. Today: the Jazz perfection of Miles Davis]
There is a gap between language and reality that is Grand Canyon-esque in proportions. For instance, the word ‘cat’ describes a certain kind of animal, but it doesn’t come close to containing the beauty and grace that’s packed into every feline. Likewise, mere adjectives and verbs fall hopelessly at the feet of utter perfection like Kind Of Blue.
Miles Davis’ 1959 album isn’t just an exceptional piece of music, it’s the finest example of artistic expression of the 20th Century period. More than Hemmingway, Picasso, Walker Evans or Cole Porter, Davis has captured all of the intricacies of the human heart within his art. And within a handful of tonal sketches that were improvised by his band, at that. Listen to Kind Of Blue today – you won’t be sorry.
Tags: Jazz, Kind Of Blue, Masterpiece, Miles Davis
28 April 2007 at 5:35 pm |
nice choice…for an excellent radio analog to your post check out this story on Studio 360.
http://www.studio360.org/americanicons/episodes/2007/02/02
26 July 2007 at 8:27 am |
Nice post. Thank you for sharing your expertise. I found it enlightening.
19 March 2009 at 11:48 am |
Miles of Miles . Going to give this albums my inner ear for the night . I have only one of his recordings ( Tutu ). Getting back to your blues list , have you listen too Johnny Winter’s album Third Degree ?