Kind Of Blue

Considered to be one of the best, if not the best, jazz albums of all time, Miles Davis' Kind Of Blue, 1959, marks a high point in the development of jazz. Though there are only 5 tracks on the original album, each one of them deserves recognition.

So What - The opening track of the album features Bill Evans on piano and Paul Chambers creating the iconic intro. Following each playing of the bass riff, the chords played by the front-line members are stacked up 4ths, with a major 3rd on the top. The chord is E A D G B, followed by D G C F A. That may not mean much written down, but it was such an important chord, it was named the 'So What chord' for its uniqueness.

Freddie Freeloader - In this, Davis replaced Bill Evans with Wynton Kelly, and the solos are played by Kelly, saxophonist John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley and Miles Davis. This one is almost a standard 12-bar blues, in contrast to So What's long 32-bar form. I say almost because instead of resolving on the 1st chord of the sequence, the tune is left 'hanging' on chord 7, leaving the form with an unresolved feel.

Blue In Green - The shortest track on the album, at only 5:36, there is debate as to whether it was composed by pianist Bill Evans or Miles Davis. This one is a slow tempo track, and quite laid back. I can't really think of anything particularly special about this track, but there isn't anything wrong with it by any account.

All Blues - Another iconic bass riff by Paul Chambers, this 12-bar blues in 6/8 is famous not only for the bass, but for the rising and falling chords on the instruments other than Davis' trumpet. Another classic, this track features some great solos, and reminds me why jazz songs are often so long. So that they have enough time to develop and express (and John Coltrane is the man for that, try listening to the album A Love Supreme).

Flamenco Sketches - The final track of the album (unless you get the reissue, containing an alternate take of this track, or the Legacy Edition, which is huge), Flamenco Sketches has no written melody. The musicians improvised over a set of chords, which were planned, using different modes (essentially 'jazz scales'). Composed by Davis and Bill Evans.

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