Kind of Blue, 50th Anniversary

Miles Davis’ masterpieces was released on August 17, 1959. It was recorded in only two days earlier that year. The sessions featured Davis’s sextet, which consisted of Bill Evans and Wynton Kelly on piano, Jimmy Cobb on drums, Paul Chambers on bass, and John Coltrane and Julian Adderley on sax.

Here’s Davis performing “So What,” the first track on the album:

Listen to what musicians have to say about this classic album.

Woodstock

Jimi Hendrix

It was 40 years ago that the original Woodstock Music & Art Fair took place at Max Yasgur’s 600-acre dairy farm in rural Bethel, New York. The festival took place from Aug. 15-18, 1969.

Thirty-two acts performed for about half a million concertgoers during the weekend. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest moments in popular music history and was listed on Rolling Stone’s 50 Moments That Changed the History of Rock and Roll.

Among the performers: Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Joe Cocker, Santana, Jefferson Airplance, CCR, The Who, Grateful Dead, Sly & the Family Stone, Blood Sweat and Tears.

Joe Cocker’s memorable Woodstock performance of “A Little Help From My Friends”

Santana “Soul Sacrifice”

Jimi Hendrix “Purple Haze”