Turning Point

Whether you mark it as the beginning of an era, or a major change of direction, Kind of Blue remains iconic.

There's a good chance that if you own just one jazz record, it's Miles Davis' modal masterpiece. Richard Williams thinks there's something to that: He's written The Blue Moment, a new book on the legacy of the 1959 album.

Audio: NPR's All Things Considered 5/8/10, host: Guy Raz. Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images