At age 50, Miles Davis’ album Kind of Blue has been officially and unanimously hailed by the US House of Representatives. Rep. John Conyers (D-Michigan) sponsored H.Res 894, which on Tuesday passed 409 to 0, recognizing the “unique contribution” of the 37-minutes of modal improvisation trumpeter Davis and his stellar sextet recorded on March 2 and April 22, 1959. The honor is richly deserved, and if you have to ask why, spend some quality time with the music. To learn more about it, I recommend Ashley Kahn’s well-researched book of “the making of Miles Davis’ masterpiece.”
But back to our contentious Congress: As my colleague Philip Booth posted on his blog “Scribe Life” the resolution reaffirms jazz as a national treasure (a point Conyers first made in 1987 with House Concurrent Resolution 57), upholds fair protection of recording artists under copyright laws, and encourages the U.S. government to take steps to “preserve and advance the art form of jazz.”
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It’s hard to imagine there’s not a subtext to this citation (a good one) considering this is Obama’s favorite album (although I would have chosen In a Silent Way). Next, a citation for Bitches’ Brew!
Yes a house citation for In A Silent Way, Bitches Brew, and On The Corner!!
HM: And Tutu.
What, me worry?
Let’s take the cupcakes that Congress offers when it comes to jazz, and maybe we’ll get the three layered cake eventually. But worrying about it too much will just sap much-needed energy for creating more jazz.
Besides the fact that I, too, might have gone with In A Silent Way, you can’t argue with the choice of Kind of Blue. After all, it is no doubt the single best-known jazz recording of all time, based on its continual breaking of sales records.
Keep your eyes on the Improvise!
Joe Lieberman has threatened to block the Senate version of the Kind of Blue resolution unless changes are made. “Why did Cannonball Adderly lay out on ‘Blue in Green?’ I think America deserves an answer to that question,” he told Hannity. The Connecticut senator said Miles should consider remaking the track with Adderly included, but when informed that both artists are no longer with us, he said “well, then let Belden figure out something to do with it.”
This whole thing could be a slippery slope! First you get a Miles resolution, then the next thing you know there’s a petition for one honoring Kenny G from some guy calling himself “the congressman from Smooth Carolina.”