Miles Davis 'Kind Of Blue' - bestselling jazz record of all time - turns 60

Miles Davis “Kind of Blue” was released on August 17, 1959, exactly 60 years ago. The album is called a masterpiece of modern music. It is the bestselling jazz record of all time, having sold nearly 5 million copies and been certified quadruple platinum. It was No 1 on the BBC’s 50 greatest jazz albums poll, No 12 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 50 greatest albums of all time and even, featured in VH1’s “100 Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Albums”.

Kind of Blue features John Coltrane on tenor saxophone, Julian “Cannonball” Adderley on alto saxophone, drummer Jimmy Cobb, bassist Paul Chambers and pianist Bill Evans (replacing regular Wynton Kelly on all but one track – “Freddy Freeloader”).

Chick Corea said about the album. “It is one thing to play a tune or a program of music, but it’s another to practically create a new language of music, which is what Kind of Blue did”. Quincy Jones added, “a work of art that explains what jazz is”. Apparently, Quincy Jones also called “his morning orange juice” claiming to listen to this album every day. If this is not the best recommendation ever then was else can I say?

Listen to Miles Davis “Kind of Blue” below:

A few days ago second new Davis song was released. I’m talking about “Paradise”, which also features guest vocalist Medina Johnson. Song comes from trumpeter’s long-shelved 1985 album “Rubberband” which will finally come out in full in September, which I mentioned here before.

Miles’ nephew and collaborator Vince Wilburn Jr., who co-produced “Rubberband” said in Rolling Stone about the final album: “He would have loved it. I think he would have been proud of the evolution. We tried to keep it in the vein of the Eighties, sprinkling in spices and rhythms, while keeping Miles’ stamp on it. He was all about evolution. I think he would have dug the progression of the music.”

From our blog: Lost Miles Davis’ Album “Rubberband” Set for Release This Year

Watch Miles Davis “Rubberband” below: