Strong Songs

Return to Kind of Blue


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Kirk returns to Kind of Blue, taking a closer look at two more tunes off of the 1959 jazz classic. First, he digs into the modified 12-bar blues "Freddie Freeloader," with a focus on Wynton Kelly's much-emulated opening piano solo. He then compares and contrasts how John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley approached the closing track, "Flamenco Sketches" on tenor and alto sax, respectively.

Music by: Miles Davis and Bill Evans

The Musicians:

Miles Davis, Trumpet

Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, Alto Sax
John Coltrane, Tenor Sax
Wynton Kelly & Bill Evans, Piano
Paul Chambers, Bass
Jimmy Cobb, Drums

Produced by Irving Townsend; Engineered by Fred Plaud

Album: Kind of Blue, 1959

Listen/Buy via Album.Link

ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:

  • The 2021 episode of Strong Songs about the album's opening track, "So What"
  • Adam Maness and Peter Martin’s excellent music podcast “You’ll Hear It” 
  • Kirk’s 2025 “You’ll Hear It” guest appearance discussing Tower of Power’s 1973 self-titled album
  • Kind of Blue: The Making of the Miles Davis Masterpiece by Ashley Kahn, 2000
  • “Cold Sweat” by James Brown, 1967
  • “Everybody Wants to Rule The World” by Tears For Fears from Songs From The Big Chair, 1985
  • “Some Other Time” by Leonard Bernstein by Bill Evans and Tony Bennett from The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album, 1975
  • “A Love Supreme, Pt. 2: Resolution” - by John Coltrane from A Love Supreme, 1965
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    Strong SongsBy Kirk Hamilton

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