KIND OF BLUE

Jazz has never been a genre of music I've really been into, but always one I appreciate and respect at the utmost. No better example of good Jazz is there than the musical stylings of Miles Davis, a man known for constantly reinventing himself and shaking the musical community.

'Kind Of Blue' is my first introduction to the work of Miles Davis, and I have to say I am impressed, but not wholly convinced. This is the album that was called the '12th greatest album of all time' by Rolling Stone magazine. While I can certainly see the appeal in this music, it doesn't inspire me in the way a 'masterpiece' normally would.

I do not deny the musical talent of the bandmembers at all; in fact I laud them for their musical proficiency. Each and every member is in top form for this production. The only issue I really have with the album (although it is a big issue) is that the 'compositions' are far too loosely based to really be considered songs as much as jam sessions. Thats really what this album is; a jam session; a congregation of genius.

While this is the perfect album to put on in the background and mellow out to, there is simply not nearly enough variety on this album to evoke real attention, and after a few minutes, interest begins to wane. The typical song on 'Kind of Blue' usually only has one or two riffs that the backing duo (the bassist and drummer) play for nine minutes or so, with one central theme each per song. But after nine minutes or so of the same thing with what sounds like improvisational soloing over top; no matter how good the soloing is, it does get old after a while, and the same backing track for several minutes can get bland.

For what it is, 'Kind of Blue' is a masterpiece. But besides it being a purely jazz record with no progressive elements, it doesn't retain the variety and interest a masterpiece would normally have for me.

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