Miles Davis was the master of reinvention in jazz, but his 1959 album 'Kind of Blue' remains his most enduring masterpiece. Moving away from the dense, fast-moving chord changes of bebop, Davis embraced 'modal jazz,' which allowed soloists more freedom to improvise based on scales (modes) rather than fixed chords. The recording sessions were unique; Davis gave the musicians—including John Coltrane and Bill Evans—only sketches of the melodies just before the tape rolled, ensuring a spontaneous and atmospheric performance. 'Kind of Blue' became the best-selling jazz album of all time and is often cited by musicians across all genres as one of the most influential records ever made. Davis continued to push boundaries throughout his career, later pioneering jazz-fusion with the experimental 'Bitches Brew' in 1970.