So WhatMiles Davis1rank/position

Miles Davis – So What (Official Video)

Miles Davis, nicknamed “the Emperor,” was a legendary trumpeter who, unfettered by existing rules, led jazz’s possibilities into another dimension with his free-thinking approach.

His influence is immense not only among jazz aficionados but also across other fields such as rock.

The album he released in 1959, Kind of Blue, is hailed as a crowning masterpiece of modern jazz.

Its ensemble work, which advanced the approach known as “modal jazz,” secured its place in music history.

Commercially, it was an extraordinary success and is unquestionably indispensable when talking about jazz.

Its connection to BLUE GIANT is also highly significant: of the three jazz CDs the protagonist Dai Miyamoto first borrows from a friend, one is this very Kind of Blue.

In a sense, it’s one of the records that marks the beginning of BLUE GIANT, and if you haven’t listened to this album yet, you can share a feeling similar to Dai’s—so by all means, check it out.

Featured here is the famous track that opens the album, “So What.” The brilliance of the performance—delivered by some of the finest players in the jazz world—goes without saying.

Take this opportunity to savor a classic that is essential both to Miles and to the history of jazz!

Someday My Prince Will ComeMiles Davis2rank/position

Miles Davis: Someday My Prince Will Come

This is the song “Someday My Prince Will Come,” performed by trumpet player Miles Davis.

Some people might think of the trumpet as a loud instrument, but it can also produce wonderfully romantic tones.

Pay attention to the richly atmospheric main melody, as well as the solos packed with dazzling virtuosity!

John McLaughlinMiles Davis3rank/position

Miles Davis – John McLaughlin

“John McLaughlin” is a track by Miles Davis, the jazz trumpeter who brought electric sounds into jazz and forged fusion.

The title comes from the name of guitarist John McLaughlin, who supported Miles’s band.

It’s included on the landmark 1970 album Bitches Brew, on which McLaughlin also appears.

Each musician’s improvisation creates a chaotic sound world, but that’s exactly what makes it innovative and cool.

Time After TimeMiles Davis4rank/position

MILES DAVIS – Time After Time

When we hear the term “standard number,” we tend to picture songs born before the war or in the ’50s and ’60s.

However, the piece introduced here is a gem of a standard that emerged in the 1980s.

“Time After Time,” included on American singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper’s blockbuster 1983 album She’s So Unusual—she’s also widely known as a great admirer of Japan—is a quintessential ’80s ballad that remains beloved even now, in the 2020s.

It’s been used countless times in commercials, and even younger music fans can instantly recognize it when they hear its wistful melody.

In fact, “Time After Time” has also become a standard in the jazz world, continually covered by many artists.

A direct catalyst was none other than the emperor of jazz, Miles Davis, who recorded an instrumental version in 1984, shortly after the song’s release, and issued it as a single the following year, in 1985.

After that, it became a recurring feature in Miles’s live performances.

Of course, beyond jazz, it’s an eternal ballad that continues to be covered across genres.

Be sure to enjoy both the original version and Miles’s cover!

Round About MidnightMiles Davis5rank/position

Miles Davis – ‘Round Midnight (Official Audio)

It’s no exaggeration to say that modern jazz began with him and ended with him.

Called both the “destroyer of bebop” and the “destroyer of modern jazz,” Miles’s delicate sound in this era is so lyrical that it seemed out of step with the prevailing movement of the time.

On Green Dolphin StreetMiles Davis6rank/position

Miles Davis – On Green Dolphin Street (Audio) (Official Audio)

A beloved classic cherished by jazz greats who defined modern jazz—such as Sonny Rollins, Bill Evans, and Oscar Peterson—On Green Dolphin Street has been widely covered by many artists, from instrumental versions to vocal renditions.

Among them, Miles Davis’s performance left perhaps the most powerful impression on listeners.

The piece also became a film.

If you’d like to immerse yourself more deeply in its world, be sure to watch it as well.

SummertimeMiles Davis7rank/position

Summertime

This piece was composed by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess.

Although it is a lullaby in content, it has been performed by many artists as a jazz standard up to the present day.

It’s short with a simple progression, so it’s a song enjoyed in a variety of arrangements—from ballads to funk.