Sketches of Spain [2012 LP] [Mono Version]

by Miles Davis

Overview

Along with Kind of Blue, In a Silent Way, and Round About Midnight, Sketches of Spain is one of Miles Davis' most enduring and innovative achievements. Recorded between November 1959 and March 1960 -- after Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley had left the band -- Davis teamed with Canadian arranger Gil Evans for the third time. Davis brought Evans the album's signature piece, "Concierto de Aranjuez," after hearing a classical version of it at bassist Joe Mondragon's house. Evans was as taken with it as Davis was, and set about to create an entire album of material around it. The result is a masterpiece of modern art. On the "Concierto," Evans' arrangement provided an orchestra and jazz band -- Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb, and Elvin Jones -- the opportunity to record a classical work as it was. The piece, with its stunning colors and intricate yet transcendent adagio, played by Davis on a fluegelhorn with a Harmon mute, is one of the most memorable works to come from popular culture in the 20th century. Davis' control over his instrument is singular, and Evans' conducting is flawless. Also notable are "Saeta," with one of the most amazing technical solos of Davis' career, and the album's closer, "Solea," which is conceptually a narrative piece, based on an Andalusian folk song, about a woman who encounters the procession taking Christ to Calvary. She sings the narrative of his passion and the procession -- or parade -- with full brass accompaniment moving along. Cobb and Jones, with flamenco-flavored percussion, are particularly wonderful here, as they allow the orchestra to indulge in the lushly passionate arrangement Evans provided to accompany Davis, who was clearly at his most challenged here, though he delivers with grace and verve. Sketches of Spain is the most luxuriant and stridently romantic recording Davis ever made. To listen to it in the 21st century is still a spine-tingling experience, as one encounters a multitude of timbres, tonalities, and harmonic structures seldom found in the music called jazz. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	11/23/2012
Label:	Legacy
UPC:	0887654076519

Tracks

1. Concierto de Aranjuez (Adagio)
2. Will o' the Wisp
3. The Pan Piper
4. Saeta
5. Solea

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Miles Davis   Primary Artist,Trumpet,Flageolet,Flugelhorn
Gil Evans   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Conductor
Miles Davis Quintet   Primary Artist
Elvin Jones   Guest Artist,Percussion
Jimmy Cobb   Guest Artist,Drums
Paul Chambers   Guest Artist,Bass,Bass (Upright)
Jimmy Cleveland   Guest Artist,Trombone
Johnny Coles   Guest Artist,Trumpet
Steven Berkowitz   Director
Earl Chapin   French Horn
Bob Tricarico   Reeds
Jim Buffington   French Horn
Eddie Caine   Flute,Reeds,Flugelhorn
Joe Bennett   Trombone
James Buffington   French Horn,Fender Rhodes
John Coltrane   Sax (Tenor)
Frank Rehak   Trombone
Johnny Carisi   Trumpet
Janet Putnam   Harp
Jack Knitzer   Bassoon
Jose Mangual   Percussion
Lee Konitz   Sax (Alto)
Jerome Richardson   Reeds
Jimmy Knepper   Trombone
Harold Feldman   Oboe,Flute,Clarinet,Clarinet (Bass)
Art Taylor   Drums
Al Block   Oboe,Tuba,Flute
Tom Mitchell   Trombone (Bass),Trombone (Bass)
Louis Mucci   Trumpet
John Barrows   French Horn
Danny Bank   Bass,Reeds,Clarinet,Clarinet (Bass)
Wynton Kelly   Piano,Percussion
Bobby Rosengarden   Percussion
Sid Cooper   Flute,Clarinet
Bernie Glow   Trumpet
Billy Barber   Tuba
Taft Jordan   Trumpet
Ernie Royal   Trumpet
Romeo Penque   Oboe,Flute,Reeds,Clarinet,Clarinet (Bass)
Julius Watkins   French Horn
Tony Miranda   French Horn
Willie Ruff   French Horn
Dick Hixon   Trombone
Joe Singer   French Horn
Albert Block   Flute
Jimmy McAllister   Tuba
Bob Swisshelm   French Horn
Paul Ingraham   French Horn
Kevin Gore   Director
Bill Barber   Tuba
Jimmy Buffington   French Horn
Arthur Taylor   Drums

Technical Credits

Teo Macero   Producer,Remixing,Audio Production
Leo Delibes   Composer
John Hammond, Sr.   Producer
Irving Townsend   Producer,Audio Production
Larry Keyes   Remixing
Frank Laico   Audio Engineer
George Avakian   Producer,Audio Production
Fred Plaut   Engineer,Audio Engineer
Frank Rehak   Engineer
Joaquin Rodrigo   Composer
Miles Davis   Arranger,Composer
Gil Evans   Arranger,Composer
Cal Lampley   Assistant
Manuel de Falla   Composer
Harold Chapman   Engineer,Audio Engineer
Heitor Villa-Lobos   Composer
Nat Hentoff   Liner Notes
Mino Cinelu   Composer
Patti Matheny   Artist Coordination
Rene Arsenault   Associate Producer,Production Assistant
Howard Fritzson   Art Direction
Tom "Curly" Ruff   Engineer
Randall Martin   Design
Vernon Smith   Photography