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Find your dose of Davis

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Find your dose of Davis (January 25, 2008)

by Michael Merline

Friday, January 25, 2008

Walking down Bascom Hill during a rather beautiful snowfall and eventually loitering casually on the balcony of the Humanities Building, I had a realization. One about music, a subject I care so very much about. It occurred to me while listening to one of the most phenomenal pieces of jazz ever recorded (in my esteemed and hopefully valuable opinion) on my overused mp3 player, that very few albums — regardless of artist, genre or age — merit frequent and diverse listens.

Let me clarify.

For a hopeless audiophile like me, listening to music 24 hours a day is the norm, but it’s a pretty diverse playlist I keep pumping into my ears. Sure, I have favorites, as do most people, but even those stereo regulars don’t get weekly — or, if I’m in the mood, daily — listens, except for one, of course: Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue.

Many people think of jazz as an elitist genre, a subculture of musicians and devoted fans who make, purchase and ultimately critique it. But true jazz fanatics also want to be a part of the music as it happens, whether it’s playing the music live in clubs and various venues or joining the limited audience able to witness these timeless performances instead of merely laying down a disc or popping one in the CD player at home. This seems to scare some people into thinking they will never understand the spectacle that is a standout solo, be entertained by songs that frequently are devoid of lyrics or vocalists or feel a solid groove sink right down to their soul.

All this psychobabble may seem long-winded, but what you should know is that anyone can appreciate jazz; it doesn’t have to be witnessed live to be worthwhile. More importantly, recordings can add to the soundtrack of your life, enhancing any number of situations. Miles Davis’ renowned 1959 masterpiece is the quintessential example of a cohesive yet exciting and diverse album that is a wonderful listen anytime.

Jazz and classical music are often imagined as mellow, soothing or perhaps decorative in a way, the kind of fare solely for dedicated analytical critique or the pompous listening habits of hoity-toity aristocrats. But Miles and company — saxophonists Cannonball Adderley and the legendary John Coltrane, pianists Wynton Kelly and Bill Evans, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Jimmy Cobb — provide more diversity and daily utility than a handful of albums by different, more colloquial artists. Give Blue a spin; you’ll know what I mean.

So to fit convention, let’s start our list of ways to dig Davis with the elegant dinner. Whether eating by candlelight, reveling in the company of friends and family, or enjoying the multiple courses prepared for your date and the slow dance for two that follows, Kind of Blue is the perfect accompaniment for any function. Though the Linus-and-Lucy-style downtrodden licks of “Blue in Green” might feel a touch too sad at first, those well-chosen notes practically smell of perfume and produce the glow of firelight. By the time the album closer “Flamenco Sketches” rolls around, those Latin chords will have you slowly swaying hand in hand with your date. Now is the time to gaze into his or her eyes — you won’t know whether it’s their look back or Miles’ crooning solo that has you so hypnotized, but it won’t matter.

But enough of the sappy stuff — how about driving music? You know, the stuff that thumps out your car stereo as you cruise with the top down and your seat leaned back or those same classic rock tracks you’ve been listening to since your parents were born. Well, time for a change, son; let Kind of Blue break the monotony. I know how it sounds — it’s hard to think of turning the key without playing something you can sing along to. But really, that trumpet can scream, and all of those guys knew how to rock. As the miles pass by on the highway, the two simple notes that make “So What” instantly recognizable will let the scenery glide along as it should, while the shrill sax solo towards the end of the song shreds as no other instrument can. To pick up the pace when the miles have you weary, the complementary solos by Coltrane and Cannonball of “Freddy Freeloader” will have you grooving in your seat. Still, the piano part is a bit more chill, so save that for when you’re pumping gas.

But music doesn’t always have to accompany the exciting times — the average moments could use some zest too. So, next time you have some errands to deal with around the house, apartment or residence hall, turn your ears toward that somber introductory piano lick and wait for Chambers’ bass to kick in and pull his bandmates — and your cleaning — forward. Miles’ sonic flights of fancy will transform the most tedious work into something relaxing (trust me, I’ve tried it) and no lawn-mowing excursion can be that stressful when “All Blues” is carrying you along.

So don’t flick on the radio today, no matter what your agenda is. Try listening to something a little different, something out of your comfort zone, something a little “blue,” and it’ll definitely match the occasion. Don’t worry; you’ll get it, you’ll dig it, and you’ll be tapping your foot in no time. You might not even need to move around much to do so: Kick back, light a cigar, and immerse yourself in music you’ll never forget and never stop finding new ways to love.

But despite all the ways Kind of Blue could and should be listened to, including those I didn’t mention, my favorite is still through some nice headphones in a gentle snowfall while walking though Madison nightlife. There’s something enchanting about the way “So What” and “Freddy Freeloader” dance along, and the crisp patter of brushes crosses Cobb’s snares. The sashaying back-and-forth rhythm of “All Blues” just seems to make the animated actions of people walking by seem so wonderfully connected. But that’s just me and my favorite occasion for some Kind of Blue; take a listen to Miles Davis’ masterpiece, and maybe it’ll be yours too.

If you want to argue what really is the bluest chord, talk Miles or just make a comment, e-mail Mike Merline at mmerline@badgerherald.com.

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Anonymous (February 14, 2008 @ 9:51am):

Mmmmm.... coffee and chocolate in the morning with a little Davis.

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