Album Club: Miles Davis, Kind of Blue (1959)

🎺 Coming in at #31 on the Top 100 is Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue, a record that didn’t just change jazz, it changed the way we think about music itself.

Released in 1959, this album introduced modal jazz to the world, tossing aside complex chords in favor of open space, freedom, and feeling. It’s smooth, cool, and endlessly listenable.

You’ve got Miles at the helm, with John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb, an all-star cast improvising in real time. The result isn’t just technically brilliant; it’s deeply human, full of mood and mystery.

Whether you’re totally new to jazz or already a fan, this record has a way of pulling you in. From the laid-back groove of “So What” to the smoky beauty of “Blue in Green,” the music feels as fresh and approachable today as it was over 60 years ago.

In this session, we’ll talk about:

• Why Kind of Blue still sits at the top of so many “best of all time” lists
• How modal jazz opened a door for new ways of listening and creating
• The magic of hearing masters improvise with so much restraint and beauty
• What makes this album a perfect gateway for people new to jazz

💡 Listening tip: If you can, try it once with headphones. You’ll hear the little details, like the brush of the drums, the piano voicings, the breath in the horn, that make this album feel so alive. But no pressure: it’s just as magical on speakers.

Spend some time with it, notice what grabs you, and bring your thoughts.

Hope to see you there!
Peace ❤️