# In 1959, Miles Davis hired two pianists for the same session. The album ended up being his masterpiece

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-1959-miles-davis-hired-two-pianists-for-the-same-session-the-album-ended-up-being-his-masterpiece/
- Published: 2026-11-01T23:00:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-01T23:12:56+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/1959-miles-davis-hired-two-pianists-masterpiece/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- Bill Evans played on most of *Kind of Blue*.
- Wynton Kelly played piano on “Freddie Freeloader”.
- Davis chose the pianist he wanted for each song.

## Summary

Miles Davis used two pianists on his 1959 album *Kind of Blue*, choosing Bill Evans for most tracks and Wynton Kelly for “Freddie Freeloader”. The decision surprised Kelly when he arrived at the studio, but drummer Jimmy Cobb reassured him that Davis wanted him for that particular song.

The article presents the choice as an example of Davis’s precise, song-by-song approach to bandleading. The album was recorded over two days, and the pianists each had their own opportunity to contribute; Cobb later recalled that it sounded good from the outset and remained one of his favourites.

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