Key Jazz Albums of 1959

In 1959, four major jazz albums were released that changed music forever:

• Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
• Dave Brubeck - Time Out
• Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um
• Ornette Coleman - The Shape of Jazz to Come

Overview of 1959 in Jazz

• A landmark year for jazz and its evolution.
• Jazz reached wider audiences, including white America.
• Musicians often integrated with the civil rights movement.
• Sparked the free jazz movement with Ornette Coleman's innovative style.

Miles Davis - Kind of Blue

• Known as the best-selling jazz album, with over 5 million copies sold.
• Highly influential, often topping best jazz album polls.
• Recording Process:
  • Recorded in just seven hours with mostly first takes.
  • Emphasized the idea that 'first thought is best thought'.
• Musical Style:
  • Opened a new introspective direction in jazz.
  • Featured a floating, haunting trumpet sound by Miles Davis.
  • Pioneered a less cluttered, more thoughtful jazz style.
• Band Members:
  • Included notable musicians like John Coltrane.

Dave Brubeck - Time Out

• Known for its rhythmic experimentation and unusual time signatures.
• Notable Track: "Take Five" in 5/4 time became a best-selling Jazz 45.
• Band Dynamics:
  • Brubeck formed a "dream group" with musicians willing to explore new tempos.
  • Faced challenges from the jazz community and accusations of diluting black music.
• Touring Challenges:
  • Faced racial issues during tours in the southern USA.
  • Brubeck stood firm against segregationist practices.

Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um

• Mingus's approach integrated past, present, and future jazz styles.
• Musical Approach:
  • Sought freedom in music, allowing for improvisation in various styles.
  • "Better Git It In Your Soul" had gospel influences.
• Social Impact:
  • Used music as a platform for political messages, especially against racism.
  • "Fables of Faubus" critiqued segregationist Governor Orval Faubus.

Ornette Coleman - The Shape of Jazz to Come

• Marked the birth of a new, free jazz movement.
• Musical Philosophy:
  • Focused on pure sound and emotional expression, without traditional constraints.
  • Played a plastic saxophone, which was unconventional at the time.
• Public Reception:
  • Initially faced hostility and skepticism from traditional jazz circles.
  • Hugely influential in retrospect, seen as a revolutionary work.

Social and Political Context

• Jazz was deeply intertwined with the civil rights movement.
• Artists like Mingus and Davis used jazz to challenge societal norms and express political beliefs.
• Jazz tours, like Brubeck's government-sponsored tour, aimed to showcase American culture.

Legacy of 1959 Jazz Albums

• These albums shaped future jazz directions and expanded its reach.
• Miles Davis and others continued to influence music beyond jazz.
• The innovations set in 1959 provided new musical frameworks that artists continue to draw upon.