RAW SELECT QUICKIE: Miles Davis - So What
Thinking about it for a split second, I came to conclusion that Miles Davis's Kind of Blue may be the most solidly rated album of all time. It's neither overly celebrated, nor is it underappreciated.
Opening the floor for discussion.
For learning, or practicing, improvisation, the modality of Kind of Blue, gives a trumpeter or saxophonist a rare peak into what can be done with just a range of notes on the scale. I remember listening to this album and just spacing out. Then I would just play notes and go with them; sometimes I would hear something wonderful and other times a confused mess. It really allows you to play as if you're in a maze and looking for a way out. On this album, Davis and Coltrane show us the perfect maze and the path. Anyway, nice selection.
I stumbled across a video on YouTube that was kind of explaining the theory behind modal jazz, and while the technical stuff flew way over my head (I’m still a music theory light weight), I did find it interesting to hear it talk about how modal sort of opened a lot of avenues for musical expression.
But even from a laymen’s standpoint, I still feel like this is the jazz album that anyone can get into, and like you said, get lost in.
Thanks for the insightful comment. Much appreciated.
One of my favorite miles davis albums after Sketches of spain and in a silent way
Sketches In Spain is an album that I wish I was more familiar with. Heard it years ago when I first started dipping my toes into jazz waters, but haven’t revisited it in awhile. Might have to do so again soon.