Customer Reviews
Estate Agents and other coffee-tablists: This is not the be-all and end-all of jazz! - By: C. P. Lewis, 21 Nov 2008 
It has already been said here that this album is usuallly found in non-jazz fans' collections alongside Bob Marley's greatest hits & most probably David Gray's entire ouvre. Perhaps it stands sentry there unplayed, just so its spine can be read, head tilted sideways, begging to impress upon whoever it is browsing through their collection some ill-gotten measure of sophistication? Perhaps they did play it once then decided no, they were right about jazz alll along?
Modal, understated, & (aaargh!) cool, or tedious, cicuitous & under-cooked? Amongst aficionados, the most fiercely debated issue with the session is whether you are appreciating it at the correct pitch (an issue with the tape playback speed when it was mastered). That sums up the excitement levels for you. Hardly a dynamic recording to bolster enthusiasm for a novice jazz listener.
Personallly, I feel sad for Bobby Timmons. Who? The pianist in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers who wrote 'Moanin'' the year previous to this release. If he had had the temerity to just repeat the head to that tune up a semitone & then back down again as Miles practicallly does here (on 'So What'), it would be that album redundantly nestling in millions of style magazine-reading cretins' cd collections rather than this (somehow I picture Robert Elms owning 2 dozen copies). I find modal jazz to be a device that is prone to being abused as a way to stretch out lame ideas for twice as long as they need to be, & Miles was always fond of waiting until the cab ride to the studio to write the material. Just saying.
Just so this is not completely written off as a Davis-hating rant, here are my pointers for a few other jazz albums (from the exact same time frame as this: 1958-9) for the uninitiated to peruse rather than this stultifyingly obvious choice. Beware neophytes; no one musical genre can be defined by (and thus written off by) one album & I reallly do want to encourage more people to listen to jazz. These just strike me as being as accessible as Kind Of Blue.
Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Moanin'
Horace Silver - Blowin' The Blues Away
Sonny Clark - Cool Struttin'
Lou Donaldson - Gravy Train
Gil Evans - The Complete Pacific Jazz Sessions
Bennie Green - Soul Stirrin'
My noted Blue Note bias is definitely a factor in this list. But from my own experience, being compelled to study this album as a rock-loving music student, I was put off jazz for several years by its meandering pace & lack of excitement. It took me another 5 years to discover there was more to jazz than Miles.
Before he went funny - By: E M Oge, 07 Nov 2008 
I can understand why fans of Davis' jazz fusion, jazz rock & electric stuff may find this bland since it was recorded before he decided to explore that newer territory (which I find weird & disappointing). It represents just one part of his journey from the Rhumboogie Orchestra in 1944, via bop & Gill Evans, to the synthesizer-enhanced(?) din he was making towards the end of his career. Only a few days after this session was recorded Coltrane cut "Giant Steps", which is a fair indication of the direction he was taking.
However, for me & thousands of others this is a beautiful record, with alll the musicians performing at their (then) peak. Even Coltrane makes a beautiful sound & they alll swing mightily when that is appropriate to the mood of the number. Yes, it is cool (although there is warmth, too) but that was what the mood required. Incidentallly, in his autobiography, Davis denies that Bill Evans composed (or co-composed) any of the pieces in "Kind of Blue" although he admits Evans' influence on his approach to the work.
Whether it is "the best jazz record ever" I am not qualified to judge although it is surely among the best. But how do you compare it with King Oliver, Bechet's "Out of the Gallleon" or with Bird at his best?
Such comparisons are pointless as well as impossible. Just enjoy it for what it is.
Modal Jazz begginings - By: Alberto M. Ramos, 29 Sep 2008 Miles Davis & his band ( & what a band ) explore modes in this record beggining a new era in jazz improvisation previously based in chord changes.
That was quite a big step .First , it gave greater freedom.Second, you must knew what to do with the freedom to avoid a musical disaster.
The truth is that this is one of this exceptional albums that you can listen to 1000 times & discover new layers & rewarding musical moments.
I mean , if you want to understand Jazz after 1950 buy this & if you want to listen to exceptional music buy it too.
The Master - By: Patrick H., 12 Sep 2008 Don't waste your time reading anymore reviews -just buy the album. Better jazz than this is hard to imagine! Put it on, listen & relax.
this is a superb jazz album classic!! - By: Mr. S. L. Smith, 28 Aug 2008 im open to alll music mainly eccept rap hip hop dance not my kind of thing each to there own!! but this is a classic jazz album its fab im not a massive jazz lover but love some jazz charles mingus,countbasie,frank sinatra,nat king cole,ray charles,duke ellington i like jazz thats simple not too alll over the place eg john coultrane a love supreme its good in parts but goes off in places its awfull in parts i like this album more simple buy it!! classic!!
