It’s unfathomable today but when Miles Davis died in late September 1991, a chunk of his Columbia catalog—including this one—was out of print. That his undisputed masterpiece, the best-selling jazz album of all time, and the genre’s greatest recording, was commercially unavailable, just boggles the mind. Today, more than half a century after its release, it remains a work of pure genius. One that is cerebral yet accessible; largely improvised but played in a very cohesive manner by a stellar lineup of jazz greats in their prime; and loved by neophytes and jazz scholars alike. Yes, it influenced scores of jazz musicians but it also had a discernable impact on the likes of guitarist Duane Allman, Pink Floyd keyboardist Rick Wright, and rapper Q-Tip. Adding to its stature is the fact that as recently as the early years of this century, generations after its debut, it was known to sell at a rate of 5,000 copies a week. So, just to summarize, what is it about this album that still captures the hearts of those it has enchanted over the years? Well, musicians can appreciate the artistry of Miles and the cast of heavyweights on it (including John Coltrane and Bill Evans); it speaks to music fans ever so profoundly; and its presence brings an added reflective quality to any situation: from conversation to romance to bliss. Man… On a personal note, it was the first Miles Davis I ever heard, at a time when jazz was staring to creep into my musical vocabulary. Subsequently, I sought out the work of this giant, an adventure which has brought me much musical nourishment, joy and delight. But it was never as good as the first time. Released August 17, 1959.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 05:55:00 +0000
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