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Sketches of Spain

Miles Davis

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iTunes Review

Between May of 1957 and March of 1960, Miles Davis collaborated with the composer and arranger Gil Evans to create a trilogy of masterpieces for large jazz ensemble. Sketches of Spain, the last of the three, is a dazzling work, not only for the glowing, magisterial orchestrations, but for the stunning solo work by Davis, among his most expressive and affecting. The centerpiece of the album is a November 1959 recording of the adagio from “Concierto de Aranjuez,” a 20th century Spanish composition by Joaquin Rodrigo. The band plays with beauty and splendor, content to stick closely to the score. The remaining tracks were recorded in March of the following year. “Will O’ the Wisp” comes from a Manuel de Falla ballet while “The Pan Piper” is based on a mystical Peruvian Indian folk melody. The final two tracks are adaptations of old Andalusian flamenco. “Saeta” is a religious march tune that quiets in the middle to allow Davis’ mournful, wailing horn the spotlight. “Solea” builds slowly atop the lightly prancing percussion of Jimmy Cobb, Elvin Jones, and crew, a blend of Latin polyrhythms and modal jazz. Davis’ inspired improvisations on these two tracks are on another plane, smoldering with emotion.

Customer Reviews

What an album!!!!

This album is one of the best jazz albums I have ever heard, and it is in my opinion Miles Davis's best work. It is well worth buying, and you will love it. They way the spanish music, and the jazz are put together is superb. Thankyou Miles for an unforgetable album.

Hot

It is mid-afternoon, baking hot in the stillness of the andalucian air, a few goat bells sound in the distance, time seems to stand still, close your eyes and feel the sun on your face and play this album: paradise.

One of the Great Albums by one of the Jazz Greats

Having first bought this album around 45 years ago, my original vinyl disc is virtually unplayable and it was such a pleasure to be able to download, in digital perfection, one of the best jazz albums ever made. The partnership of Davis and Gil Evans was made in Jazz heaven and the results have stood the test of time and will continue to do so. The whole album sounds as great as it did when I was 20 and we now have the bonus of 3 extra tracks in this package. My other relationship with this album is that my sister married a Catalonian and I have since become steeped in the music of Spain and although Davis and Evans are American and this is jazz, they have captured the essence of the music of Spain perfectly and with respect and have then reconstituted it in the language of jazz. Monumental!

Biography

Born: 26 May 1926 in Alton, IL

Genre: Jazz

Years Active: '40s, '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s

Throughout a professional career lasting 50 years, Miles Davis played the trumpet in a lyrical, introspective, and melodic style, often employing a stemless Harmon mute to make his sound more personal and intimate. But if his approach to his instrument was constant, his approach to jazz was dazzlingly protean. To examine his career is to examine the history of jazz from the mid-'40s to the early '90s, since he was in the thick of almost every important innovation and stylistic development in the...
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