Sketches of Spain Miles Davis

• 1 Concierto de Aranjuez: Adagio 16:21
• 2 Will O' the Wisp 03:47
• 3 The Pan Piper 03:52
• 4 Saeta 05:33
• 5 Solea 15:39
• Total Runtime 45:12

Info for Sketches of Spain

„Sketches of Spain“ by Miles Davis: Each of Miles' four orchestral album collabo­ra­tions with arranger-composer Gil Evans - Miles Ahead (1957), Porgy And Bess (1958), Sketches Of Spain (1959), and Quiet Nights (1962) - was a masterwork in its own right. „Sketches of Spain“ was Miles' first post-Kind Of Blue project, and retains that LP's modal feel on the 16-minute version of Rodrigo's 'Concierto de Aranjuez,' the inspira­tion for Davis and Evans. Liner notes for the 2009 edition of „Sketches of Spain“ are written by composer academician Gunther Schuller, whose hundreds of accomplishments in jazz include playing French horn for Miles on the 1949-50 Birth Of The Cool sessions. „Sketches of Spain“ was recorded in 1959 and released in 1960.

This historic edition presents the original album augmented by alternate and extra tracks, illustrating how this synergy developed. 'The Maids of Cádiz' (from the 1957 album Miles Ahead) is the first example of Gil Evans adapting a composition of Spanish origin for an orchestral collaboration with Miles. The live performance of 'Concierto de Aranjuez,' the only such ever given, took place in Carnegie Hall in 1961, offering a rare, heightened performance of this centerpiece. 'Teo,' (from the 1961 album Someday My Prince Will Come) a small group piece dedicated to Producer Teo Macero, is simpatico with 'Solea'--the other jewel from the original album, with its orchestral palette that is, in a word, sublime.

The conception of „Sketches of Spain“ in 1960, can be placed in the „most melodic era“ of Miles Davis. It is one of his most accessible and less improvisational albums, some even outclassed it from the reigns of Jazz. This is one of the four albums where Miles and Gil Evans (arranger & conductor) were together with a small orchestra of horns and percussion, and it was fueled by Spanish melodies that fascinated Davis to the point he needed to get into them and go beyond: El Concierto de Arajuez by Joaqu_n Rodrigo and El Amor Brujo by Manuel de Falla. Davis and Evans put something together that every single music lover should possess, a sketch of some place he'd never been to. As Miles said, „It's music, and i like it'.

Miles Davis, trumpet, flugelhorn
Paul Chambers, bass
Jimmy Cobb, drums
Elvin Jones, percussion
The Gil Evans Orchestra:
Ernie Royal, trumpet
Taft Jordan, trumpet
Louis Mucci, trumpet
Johnny Coles, trumpet
Dick Hixon, trombone
Frank Rehak, trombone
Jimmy Buffington, French horn
John Barrows, French horn
Earl Chapin, French horn
Joe Singer, French horn
Tony Miranda, French horn
Jimmy McAllister, tuba
Bill Barber, tuba
Al Block, flute
Eddie Caine, flugelhorn
Harold Feldman, flute, clarinet, oboe
Danny Bank, bass clarinet
Romeo Penque, oboe
Jack Knitzer, bassoon
Janet Putman, harp
Jose Mangual, percussion

Recorded on November 20, 1959 and March 10, 1960 at Columbia 30th Street Studio, New York
Produced by Teo Macero, Irving Townsend

Digitally remastered

No biography found.

This album contains no booklet.