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Is Kind of Blue the Best Jazz Album Ever

Let me begin by qualifying "best", in this case I use the word best to mean the most representative or widely accepted.

Kind of Blue is not my favorite album, but whenever I listen to it I feel that if someone were to ask me what is Jazz I would be compelled to play it, more specifically "So What".

Maybe it is the star studded cast, Miles Davis, Coltrane, Bill Evans, Cannonball Adderly. On their own these guys are legends. Together?

So the question can be twisted, are they any other jazz albums that could represent what Jazz so perfectly?
nick_sr
csontos
1,311 posts
 
Don't lose any sleep over it. The answer is no. What do you like? Horns? Piano? Strings? Vocals? There's lots to choose from. Nostalgia is the equalizer.
byegolly
140 posts
 
Why not just ask, "Is Kind of Blue the most representative or widely accepted Jazz recording?"

You know, many worship Brubeck's Time Out just as much.

I love the opiate-enriched Anita O'Day signing Sweet Georgia Brown as much as the above, but I'm bent.

It's all subjective. Mary Lou Williams and Ellington would never have got past the word "Jazz" to attempt an answer.

Teo! Teo! (in that hoarse voice) I hear beyond the grave.

Later..
ihcho's avatar
ihcho
612 posts
 
Even though I had read in many places that KOB was one of the best Jazz album, it wasn't until recently I started to listen to regularly. I bought the CD probably over 10 years ago, but it was not one of my favorite. Just hard to listen to and the sound recording was not good either.
However, I bought a newly released LP about a year or so ago and started to listen to again, and I've realized that it was indeed something. I just listened to it again and it felt just fresh and the sound was just fantastic.

However, I still prefer many of my other jazz collections to KOB, including Getz/Gilberto, Brubeck's Timeout, Muddy Waters Folk Singer, to name a few.
byegolly
140 posts
 
Ihcho:

Muddy Waters in Jazz collection? That's broadening the category, but Ellington would appreciate it cause he hated the categorization of music. Ihcho, you like blues? Here's a good one to listen to: James Ulmer, No Escape from the Blues. Let me know what u think.
ihcho's avatar
ihcho
612 posts
 
Yes, I would agree Folk Singer would be a bit of stretch to be included in jazz collection, but can it be blues jazz? We know Muddy had a big influence on many (blues) jazz musician later on. Same would be for Getz/Gilberto which is bossa nova jazz and not in mainstream Jazz.

For standard jazz, Bill Evans' Waltz for Debby would be just as good.

I have Folk Singer, Getz/Gilbero, and KOB in both LP and CD, and LP sounds more lively and full on my system.
Yes, I will check out James Ulmer. But I am not sure whether it would sound as good as Folk Singer (on LP). ;-)
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