the best selling jazz record of all time was released 48 years ago and it still sells thousands of copies a week. it is a universally acknowledged masterpiece, revered as much by rock and classical music fans as by jazz lovers. the album is miles davis' 'kind of blue'. the album brought together seven now-legendary musicians in the prime of their careers: tenor saxophonist john coltrane, alto saxophonist julian 'cannonball' adderley, pianists bill evans and wynton kelly, bassist paul chambers, drummer jimmy cobb and of course, trumpeter miles davis. this album was the key recording of what became modal jazz, a music free of the fixed harmonies and forms of pop songs. in davis's men's hands it was a weightless music, but one that refused to fade into the background. in retrospect every note seems perfect, and each piece moves inexorably towards its destiny.