To me, it has to be the first time I listened to Kind of Blue, which was last March. I was shocked--shocked!--to see that the shortest song was over 5 minutes long, and most were upwards of 9 mins. Anyhow, I put the CD in the player in the kitchen, and spread myself over three chairs and listened to it. It was very strange, not like any music I'd ever heard up until that point--at that point I'd never listened to a full jazz album before. I remember thinking how intriguing it was, and as I listened I read the exquisite liner notes--done by my hero Bill Evans, of course, who at that time I had no opinions on whatsoever--and randomly scribbled down words that came to mind.

I was just so transported, lying there listening to the calmest bit of life I'd ever heard, and thinking that this was a legend I was hearing. For awhile I couldn't quite understand what was so legendary about it, and then as I was drifting along, I realized that people were making this shit up off the tops of their heads, and I was so delighted I wanted to cry. But I didn't cry--I just lay there, drifting away, so tired and yet so relaxed, and almost fell asleep during "Flamenco Sketches" (both of the takes). And when it was over I sat up and knew that my imsomnia was going to end that night, knew that for one night I would sleep soundly, and I did--I was just unshakably transported.