A compelling biography.

A bracing reminder of when jazz represented a widely relevant culture.

3 Shades of Blue does not tell any new stories.

Definitive.

If 3 Shades of Blue: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, and the Lost Empire of Cool is neither an essential addition to the jazz literature nor quite the sweeping statement its subtitle promises, it’s certainly a compelling read.

No matter how many times you listen, analyze, and track down all the stories, its depths continue to resound. It is why you are reading the book, and it is why you keep returning to the source..

A compulsively readable book about three jazz legends who came together for one glorious moment to produce one of the best, most influential jazz records ever..

Kaplan seamlessly combines vibrant biography... with insightful music history, all set within a sharply drawn social context.

Throughout this vibrant text, the author captures the time and atmosphere perfectly... and he brings us right into the performances, unwinding the subtle nuances in the music..

Kaplan overdoes the genius talk, but the book has many moments fans will savor, as when the saxophonist Cannonball Adderley falls asleep during a recording session and Miles chastises him with, 'Don't snore on my solo, bitch.' Fortunately, there's nothing soporific about this groovy book..