Today is the 50th anniversary of the first session of one of the most influential jazz records ever, Kind of Blue. Certainly an essential for any jazz collection. The sessions were at Columbia Records’ 30th Street Studio in New York City and began on this day in 1959. A subsequent date took place on April 22nd. The record was released on August 17, 1959. Kind of Blue was an experiment in modal forms and a departure from Davis’ earlier hard bop style. The All-Star lineup includes Miles Davis – trumpet, leader, Julian “Cannonball” Adderley – alto saxophone, except on “Blue in Green”, John Coltrane – tenor saxophone, Wynton Kelly – piano, only on “Freddie Freeloader”, Bill Evans – piano on all, except “Freddie Freeloader”, Paul Chambers – bass and Jimmy Cobb – drums.
