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Album Reissue: Miles Davies – Kind Of Blue

Arty, sumptuous box set for 50th anniversary of a masterpiece

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R1959

For author Ashley Kahn it’s ‘a holy relic’. For Q-Tip it’s “like The Bible – you have one in your house”. From its appearance in 1959 it’s been the epitome of cool and it’s still the best-selling jazz album ever.

The mystique that clings to Miles Davis‘ Kind of Blue has layers. There’s the fierce pride of its immaculately dressed creator, the magic of its one-take creation, its cast of perfect players (especially John Coltrane and pianist Bill Evans), its milestone status as tonal rather than chord-led jazz, and at the centre its five exquisite pieces, wrenchingly beautiful and suprising.

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Beyond, at its atomic core are the instantly recognisable two trumpet notes of “So What”, Miles’ catchphrase.

One out-take, some studio banter, five 1958 session cuts, a great live ‘So What’, a crisp DVD documentary, a vinyl re-press of Kind of Blue, a 60 page book, photographs and poster make for a ravishing revisitation.

NEIL SPENCER

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R1959 For author Ashley Kahn it’s ‘a holy relic’. For Q-Tip it’s “like The Bible – you have one in your house”. From its appearance in 1959 it’s been the epitome of cool and it’s still the best-selling jazz album ever. The mystique that clings...Album Reissue: Miles Davies - Kind Of Blue