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I don't understand Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue"

I'm new to Jazz. While I enjoy Amstrong and Fitzgerald duo and some of Amstrong's Hot Five and Hot Seven pieces, I fail to appreciate "Kind of Blue" which is praised by many as cornerstone CD in jazz. What I hear from the CD is background music that is repetitous throughout the song and seemingly random saxo, or similar instrument - pardon my ignorance of instruments, in the front. The background music bothers me because it's simple and repetitive. Perhaps this is not my type of music. Or should I listen to other CDs before appreciate this one?

Can someone educate me what is great about this CD?
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celtic66
1,610 posts
 
I'm sensing you've not experienced Jazz live. To truly appreciate this style of music, you need to find a performer doing it live. Terrance Blanchard, Dave Douglas, somebody who is influenced by the Miles Davis school of music.
philjolet's avatar
philjolet
2,305 posts
 
It was not only recorded in one take (all but one song which took two) I am almost certain none of the musicians had ever played the music before. I do not care about this either but FYI.

I like Kind of Blue because it almost has a melody or something that is 'catchy' that a novice like me can grasp and at the same time I find it melodic and ever changing.

A far cry from the 'squaking' I hear in some jazz.
tok20000's avatar
tok20000
608 posts
 
YOu really need to come to the Monterey Jazz Festival. It takes place around the 20th or so of Sept for Fri, Sat, and Sun.

KF
unsound
7,311 posts
 
I love the music of Miles Davis and I love this recording. That doesn't mean you have to. Some things hit me all at once. Some things take time to appreciate. For what ever reason some things never take hold. To each his own.
sayas
184 posts
 
try the book, cd included, "what to listen to in jazz" by barry kernfeld. the cd includes 21 "historic" jazz recordings! Listen to Manteca while you are at it...

ENJOY!
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