The Miles Davis Family hosted a sophisticated yet boozy private tasting of the new Miles Davis Kind of Blue Scotch Whiskey in at a swanky Hollywood art gallery. It was a real turn up.
A delightful specialty cocktail aptly named “The Legend” highlighted the scotch’s drinkability, the drink’s natural airiness grounded by Kind of Blue’s mature bite. Taken straight, Miles’ signature drink was smooth with a distinctive kick, very much like the album it’s named after.
Attendees seemed to have a direct connection to the artist; guffawing musicians telling war stories, publicists and marketing types doing the same. These were stylish and well-traveled people, the target market for this mature and vibrant drink.
The night also served as a listening party for the new box set Freedom Jazz Dance: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 5. The bop and cool set features Miles’ most legendary sidemen, including pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Ron Carter and my favorite saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter. The album was a perfect compliment; cool tunes with a marked edge.
Miles’ paintings were featured in the center of the gallery, and they were jaw-droppingly good. I never knew Miles painted, but he’s now one of my favorite artists. His work, free, scrawled and a little scary, is clearly an antecedent to Jean-Michel Basquiat, a man who’s influenced me more than any other.
