It is THE Miles Davis album. While not necessarily his most innovative or groundbreaking work, it's probably the single most accessible jazz album on the planet. (No, Kenny G's
Breathless is NOT a jazz album.) ANYONE can listen to
KoB and 'get it,' even knowing absolutely nothing about jazz. There are literally millions of people who own this album, and don't own any other jazz music. And the crazy thing is that it's not a sellout album. The product isn't compromised or watered down to make it less intellectually challenging for the masses or for jazz novices. It is both the simplest, gentle-est, friendliest, easiest jazz and one of the most profound, challenging, scholarly jazz works...at the same time!!!
Yes, I am nerding on hardcore right now about jazz, but anyone here who's heard it (Hellooo, apparently, and CatHerder, I know for sure) will understand at least partly...because even someone who doesn't like jazz will read this and go, "Oh yeah, he's right. I don't know about that other stuff about it being deep, but he's right about it being easy to listen to." And then the people like me who've actually done serious scholarly work in the genre know that I'm not just blowing smoke, either.
Want proof?
After you've had a lousy day at work/school/whatever, and you get home, and you're grouchy...pour yourself a glass of your favoritest, most comforting drink (coffee, tea, wine, chocolate stout, whatever), turn the lights down low, and sit in a comfortable chair...and just listen to the last track...
Flamenco Sketches...in the dark, just let the day melt into the music...
Miles Davis - Flamenco Sketches - YouTube