Sketches Of Spain
by Miles Davis

A fantastic jazz album that has hints of a Spanish influence scattered across all its tracks making for one of his most unique albums he has made. Miles Davis still leads the line on his trumpet on these brilliant compositions with the record opening on its strongest one with Concierto De Aranjuez: Adagio. This is a 16 minute epic that really gets you in the feel for the music and soundscape we are about to experience. The music has an incredibly grand feel to it which is mainly due to the large ensemble that is present on this record. This makes for an extremely layered and complex release which is a lot of fun to explore. All the instrumental performances are amazing and the quality of the musicians is really put on display for us to see. Despite this, the music can feel a little slow at times and the music does take a while to build up. Also, I feel like they under used some of the talent on here by bringing in so many performers, as you lose a bit of the personality and connection you get with other records. Overall, a unique record in Miles Davis discography and one that is worth coming back to for its vibrant nature and grand feel it gives you.

For those who have lived in the very diverse country, this very great album by the masterful Miles Davis might well stand as good, or even a better testimony to Spain's wide variety of attractions than many of their own often masterful indigenous musicians have managed to convey.
With its artistic antenna closer to the South than to the centre or industrial North, Davis' work conjures up the traditional and historical flavour of Andalucia and surrounding areas, its music culture, and sentiment. His brilliant rendering of Joaquín Rodrigo´s "Concierto de Aranjuez" will not be pleasing to every purist ear, but for others, including myself, it will be remembered as one of the great piece's finest performances.
This album is a must for both lovers of Davis' music and of Spanish music generally. It is also a standout Third Stream work, perfectly combining Jazz Fusion and Spanish Flamenco.
After very careful consideration, I currently have this at the top of my favourite ever Jazz releases, including the artist´s own "Kind of Blue". unlike my great adoration of the work, that may change, but. I have given it a full 5 out of 5. It is that good!
(Edited)

From Radioscope 06/20/2018 14:17 | #217072 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

It’s a fine album but I don’t love it. I understand the Concierto de Aranjuez is a reinterpretation but it still feels to me a numbed-down version of the original classical concert oriented towards aesthetic. The whole album is to me an ode more of Spanish sound than that of feeling, but Spanish folk has a specific focus on the latter so the songs end up presenting a lively image of the country but not focusing on what I feel makes Spanish folk special. Listen to Paco de Lucia’s version of the Concierto de Aranjuez. The Saeta, on the other habd, is a good interpretation, keeping an essence of the genre and making it it’s own. So overall not fantastic, but still a nice listen.

From ffudnebbuh TOP 100 COMMENTER 10/04/2009 21:39 | #6601 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Of course, "Kind of blue" is his best selling album, but "Sketches of Spain" was always his second best selling. Really great album.

A more classical style than his more famous jazz work. An album to play when I am in the right mood. The first track goes on a bit but creates a lot of mood.

Personally I prefer the jazz work. Bitches Brew is top of the tree for me.