What is the best Miles Davis album to start with?

The best album to start with is "Kind of Blue" (1959). It's the most representative of what makes Miles Davis worth hearing.

How many albums does Miles Davis have?

Miles Davis has 147 releases in their discography, including 147 albums.

Photo: William P. Gottlieb · Public domain

Miles Davis

Q: Who is Miles Davis for?

If you're into jazz fusion and bebop, Miles Davis is worth your time. A masterful interplay of tension and release shapes the rhythmic pulses and atmospheric layers within each piece, creating an immersive listening experience.

A masterful interplay of tension and release shapes the rhythmic pulses and atmospheric layers within each piece, creating an immersive listening experience.

bebop · cool jazz · hard bop · jazz fusion

United States

Read about Miles Davis on Bookshop

Start here

The album

Kind of Blue (1959)

A landmark jazz album that introduces modal jazz, showcasing Davis' innovative approach and providing a cohesive listening experience for newcomers.

The song

“So What”

An iconic track with a memorable hook that encapsulates Miles Davis' style, making it an engaging introduction to his music.

See the full guide

About Miles Davis

Miles Davis matters because he shifted the entire course of jazz, bringing together disparate influences and pushing musicians to rethink their artistic expression.

His work not only transformed how jazz could sound but also opened pathways for future genres, encouraging artists to explore new territories that defied convention.

His work not only transformed how jazz could sound but also opened pathways for future genres, encouraging artists to explore new territories that defied convention. As a charismatic bandleader, he inspired a generation of musicians and listeners alike, engendering an audience eager for innovation and depth in musicality. Davis's process involved a deep understanding of silence and space as integral components of music, often balancing intricate improvisation with stark moments of stillness. He had an uncanny ability to surround himself with talented collaborators who shared his vision while also nurturing their individual styles. This approach created a sonic playground where musical conversations thrived, allowing new forms and ideas to emerge organically from jam sessions rather than relying solely on written compositions. In his songwriting, Davis often delved into emotional landscapes that explored themes of introspection, longing, and social change, all conveyed through evocative melodies and harmonies. His voice shifted between assertive and contemplative, using irony and sincerity to capture complex feelings without overt explanation—leaving space for listeners' own interpretations.

147 studio albums· 7 decades· United States

Full discography

Miles Davis's albums in order, from earliest releases to latest.

147 releases • 147 albums • 1946–2023

Type:

Studio albums (121)

Grouped by decade — 9 eras.

2010s ()

Experimental

Rubberband

2013

Miles Davis Quintet, Antwerp, Belgium

2011

2000s ()

Miles Davis: The Complete Columbia Album Collection album by Miles Davis

1990s ()

Panthalassa: The Remixes album by Miles Davis

1980s ()

1970s ()

Circle in the Round album by Miles Davis

1960s ()

1950s ()

1940s ()

Cool Boppin'

1949

Bopping the Blues

1946

Undated ()

Chronicle: The Complete Prestige Recordings 1951–1956 album by Miles Davis

Live ()

In Concert at the Olympia, Paris 1957 album by Miles Davis

Compilations ()

The Complete On the Corner Sessions album by Miles Davis

Songs to start with

If you'd rather pick a song than an album.

1

"Rubberband of Life" — from Rubberband (2013)

establishes the sonic palette early
2

"So What" — from Kind of Blue (1959)

establishes the sonic palette early

Continue your journey

If you liked Miles Davis, start with John Coltrane

A guided entry point we think you'll like.

Listen

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Reference

Official site Wikipedia MusicBrainz Wikidata Discogs

Miles Davis

About Miles Davis

Full discography

Studio albums (121)

2010s ()

Rubberband

Miles Davis Quintet, Antwerp, Belgium

2000s ()

Miles Davis: The Complete Columbia Album Collection

Beautiful Ballads & Love Songs

Forever Miles Davis

Cool & Collected

Miles Davis Quintet at Peacock Alley

The Legendary Prestige Quintet Sessions

The Miles Davis Collection, Vol. 1: 12 Sides of Miles

The Cellar Door Sessions

Seven Steps: The Complete Columbia Recordings of Miles Davis 1963–1964

Birdland 1951

In Person Friday and Saturday Nights at the Blackhawk, Complete

Super Hits

At Newport 1958

Chasin' the Bird

Amsterdam Concert

1990s ()

Panthalassa: The Remixes

Love Songs

Panthalassa: The Music of Miles Davis 1969–1974

Miles Davis & Gil Evans: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings

Live Around the World

Highlights from the Plugged Nickel

Ballads and Blues

1969 Miles Festiva De Juan Pins

Doo-Bop

Dingo – Selections From the Motion Picture Soundtrack

'58 Miles Featuring Stella by Starlight

First Miles

Miles in Paris

No (More) Blues

1980s ()

Amandla

Aura

The Columbia Years 1955–1985

Miles & Coltrane

Music from Siesta

Tutu

You're Under Arrest

Mellow Miles

Decoy

Star People

Blue Christmas

We Want Miles

Call It What It Is

The Man with the Horn

Directions

Fat Time

1970s ()

Circle in the Round

Dark Magus

In Paris Festival International de Jazz, May 1949

The Miles Davis and Tadd Dameron Quintet in Paris

Water Babies

Miles in Tokyo

Pangaea

Agharta

Get Up with It

Big Fun

1958 Miles

Pre-Birth of the Cool

Black Beauty: Miles Davis at Fillmore West

Jazz at the Plaza

On the Corner

Live-Evil

A Tribute to Jack Johnson

Miles Davis at Fillmore

Bitches Brew

1960s ()

Miles in Berlin

In a Silent Way

Miles in the Sky

Filles de Kilimanjaro