50th Anniversary Of The Miles Davis Classic Kind Of Blue Celebrated With Limited Edition 'Commemorative' Package Tower Festival, Sony & Faber And Faber Join Forces For The Ultimate Tribute.

"Kind Of Blue sounded like a masterpiece in 1959. And it still does."

The Daily Telegraph

"It's a cornerstone record not only for jazz. It's a cornerstone record for music."

Herbie Hancock

THE TOWER FESTIVAL, SONY MUSIC AND FABER AND FABER are delighted to announce the ultimate package to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the release of the Miles Davis classic Kind of Blue. Retailing at a modest £80, the strictly limited package includes 2 tickets to the Tower Festival on the 17th September, one copy of the new Sony Music release 'Kind of Blue Legacy Edition' with 2 CDs and DVD and one copy of the 'The Blue Moment' by Richard Williams - the essential companion to Kind of Blue.

Kind Of Blue was released in August 1959, stunning the jazz world by practically creating a new language of music. Its influence goes far beyond jazz. The album is universally considered to be one of the best albums of all time, of any genre. Fifty years later, Kind of Blue-the epitome of spontaneous invention-is still the best selling jazz album ever and remains a constant at the top of worldwide Jazz charts.

LIVE
On 17th September, as part of the Tower Festival, legendary jazz drummer, Jimmy Cobb (the only surviving member from the original recording) leads a contemporary all-star band featuring Wallace Roney (trumpet), Javon Jackson (tenor saxophone), Vincent Herring (alto saxophone), Larry Willis (piano), and Buster Williams (bass.) The group will perform their interpretations of Kind of Blue's five masterpieces: "So What", "Freddie Freeloader", "Blue In Green", "All Blues", and "Flamenco Sketches" plus other classics by Davis, John Coltrane, Julian "Cannonball" Adderley. Support comes from UK Jazz legend Courtney Pine.

ALBUM
For the 50th anniversary, Sony have released the new Kind of Blue Legacy Edition. The 2 CDs feature the original album, alternate takes, false starts and a 17 minute performance of 'So What' live in Holland. The DVD features a documentary, Celebrating A Masterpiece: Kind of Blue, produced by Nell Mulderry, black-and-white still photography of the Kind of Blue recording sessions, as well as excerpts of radio interviews with the late Bill Evans and "Cannonball" Adderley. The DVDs other talking heads include Herbie Hancock, Bill Cosby, Jimmy Cobb and Carlos Santana, showing the immense influence and value of Kind of Blue.

BOOK
There have been many books about Miles Davis, one of the twentieth century's most important musical figures, but The Blue Moment is unlike any other work on the subject.

Richard Williams takes as his starting point the making of Kind of Blue, Davis's most celebrated album, and shows how movements in art, philosophy and music fed into this meditative, melancholy masterpiece, first released in 1959.

Williams tells the story of the album's creation in miraculously few hours in a converted Manhattan church and elegantly sketches the roles of the other five musicians who played on the recording. This is the foundation for an ambitious exploration of Kind of Blue's influence on the whole course of late-twentieth-century music.

Richard Williams is the Guardian's chief sports writer. His previous jobs include chief sports writer of the Independent, assistant editor of the Times, editor of Time Out and Melody Maker and head of artists and repertoire at Island Records.

For die-hard jazz fans and newcomers alike, Kind of Blue is the quintessential jazz album - book now for the ultimate tribute to one of the twentieth century's most important albums.

KIND OF BLUE 'COMMEMORATIVE' ANNIVERSARY PACKAGE - ONLY £80! *

• KIND OF BLUE AT 50 - TOWER FESTIVAL - 17TH SEPTEMBER - RRP £80 (for 2 tickets)
• KIND OF BLUE LEGACY EDITION - 2 CD / DVD SET - RRP approx £25
• THE BLUE MOMENT - Miles Davis's Kind of Blue and the Remaking of Modern Music - Richard Williams - Out 6 August - RRP £14.99

Richard Williams will be at the event for book signings.

* Strictly limited numbers. Subject to booking fee. Tickets for the Tower Festival will be sent in the post. Book and CD must be collected at Kind of Blue at the Tower Festival on 17 September only - collection will be at the merchandise stand. Books and CD will not be sent out in advance. Package includes 2 tickets, 1 copy of Kind of Blue Legacy Edition, 1 copy of The Blue Moment by Richard Williams.

To book call 0844 847 2519 or go to http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/event/1F0042F6C5F66209

http://www.towerfestival.com/

http://www.faber.co.uk/