KIND OF BLUE / MILES DAVIS
Kind Of Blue is the biggest selling album in Miles Davis’ stellar catalogue, the biggest selling jazz album of all time, finally reaching platinum status last year, and the jazz album that even people who don’t like jazz like. This year marks the 50th anniversary of its recording and release.
The group that recorded the album features the saxophones of John Coltrane and Julian “Cannonball” Adderley, Paul Chambers on bass, Jimmy Cobb on drums and Bill Evans on piano and arrangements. They had not played any of the music prior to recording, Miles himself only conceiving the music hours before the session and then only supplying sketches of what was to be played to everyone involved. A bold quest.
Miles was a dark musical magus who viewed recording as alchemy between the chosen players, so he selected the players carefully, encouraging improvisation and creating an atmosphere that encouraged empathy, adventure and innovation. It worked.
The music is relaxed and slow tempo, the pinnacle of modal jazz — tonality and solos build from the overall key, not chord changes, slowly unfolding itself, giving the music a subtly shifting quality in contrast to the complex hard bop jazz of the previous era. It’s a very enjoyable listening experience, both repaying close attention and providing low volume background music, it adapts to the environment of wherever it is listened to, luring the listener into its subtle charms.
So I was very excited and grateful when a kind and generous music lover friend gave the 50th Boxed edition of Kind Of Blue as a Christmas present. It is one of the best boxed sets ever, reflecting the quality and care that its creators have taken to match the music itself.
Packaged in a large 12” sized heavy blue slip case, before you even get to the music the contents are impressive - a frame-worthy triple fold out black and white photo montage poster of Miles in the studio, an envelope containing 8x10 photos of each of the band members, including one of the best Coltrane shots ever and a multi page facsimile of Bill Evans notes in the studio with a booklet of record reviews of the time plus a top quality heavy paper stock immaculately printed 60 page album sized book that includes wonderful in studio photographs and a collection of essays on the album. Phew!
And then to the music: packaged inside a recreation of the original album cover complete with liner notes is the clear blue original vinyl album. It is the best vinyl album that you will ever hear! This version has been mastered on a semi-automatic press which has resulted in louder volume, increased detail and lifted lower bass. The flatter vinyl profile, with a new groove guard (the lip on the edge of the record) shape, has enhanced the richness of the music. Finally, removing the inherently magnetic carbon black to produce the clear vinyl effect has focused the whole production, improving the sound stage and the placement of the instruments within. Not only is this reissue the best sounding version of the album ever made, it’s also the most technically advanced LP ever created.
The cover then folds out to reveal three discs, a CD of the original re-mastered album, another with fascinating alternate takes, between song dialogue, previously unreleased tracks and a rare live performance of So What from the album. The DVD documentary features interviews, commentary, photos, radio interviews and television footage that enhance and illume the album. The quality and care taken with the whole package is remarkable.
So if you only buy one jazz album or boxed set this year…
back
to top
|
