Kind of Blue: The Making of the Miles Davis Masterpiece
by Ashley Kahn

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Book Reviews of Kind of Blue: The Making of the Miles Davis Masterpiece

Book Review: The definitive story of Kind of Blue
Summary: 5 Stars

To provide appropriate context, Ashley Kahn engagingly tracks the careers of all participants to the album, leading up to those two great sessions in 1959. In the process he explains just why this music was so ground-breaking and influential at the time, whilst also offering a valuable insight into the business aspects of jazz in the late '50s, and studio recording practices of the time.

His vivid descriptions of the sessions themselves are a delight to read and will enhance further enjoyment of the album itself. Kahn also provides the last word on the enduring mysteries of the tape tracking problem that has blighted the LP and early CD releases for so long, as well as the previously inexplicable left-handed Miles cover of an early CD issue.

Beautifully designed, with many rare session photographs and other illustrations, Kahn's book has the edge over Eric Nisenson's recent volume on the same subject, although they do compliment each other quite nicely. [Nisenson focuses more on background issues, such as George Russell's influence on Miles, and covers each artist at greater length. His is a more personal account of the album, in the process of which he is, in my humble opinion, too critical of Cannonball Adderley's joyous playing.]

Kahn, however, opts for a more objective, though no less passionate approach and better succeeds in making the conception of the album really come alive. So, if you have to choose, this is the one to go for.

In any case, it certainly gets my vote for best jazz book of the year.

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