Miles Davis: Sketches Of Spain (180g) LP - Stereo!

Label: Columbia, 1960

Serie: LEGACY - 180g Audio Quality

George Avakian, who directed a series of ethnic music in Colombia under the direction of the ethno musicologist Alan Lomax, wanted Gil Evans to work with flamenco above all else, as he appreciated Spanish composers. In fact, Miles himself had discovered Joaquin Rodrigo's "Concierto De Aranjuez" and flamenco at the same time - thanks to an anthology brought back from Spain by actress Beverly Bentley and a concert to which Frances Taylor had taken him

The result was majestic music in which Gil Evans bypassed the kitsch of Rodrigo's original score and, with the help of Miles' imposing trumpet, was able to hold his own. Along with the Adagio from the "Concierto", Gil Evans borrowed Manuel de Falla's "Will O' The Wisp" and adapted "The Pan Piper" from a panpipe aria recorded by Lomax in Galicia, and "Saeta" from a ritual song of the same name sung to accompany the brass bands that accompanied the processions in Seville during Holy Week. In this last piece and in "Solea", Miles drew from the embers of flamenco singing while at the same time distancing himself from all traces of folklore.

Original edition: Columbia LP CS 8271 dated 18 July 1960
Producers: Teo Macero and Irving Townsend (titles 1, 7 and 8), Teo Macero (titles 2-6):Engineer: Fred Plaut

20. November 1959 (a)
Miles Davis, flh); Ernie Royal (tpt.); Bernie Glow (tpt.); Taft Jordan (tpt.); Louis Mucci (tpt.); Dick Hixon (tb.); Frank Rehak (tb.); Jimmy Buffington (frh.); John Barrows (frh.); Earl Chapin (frh.); Jimmy McAllister (tuba.); Al Block (fl); Eddie Caine (fl); Romeo Penque (oboe); Harold Feldman (oboe, cl); Jack Knitzer (bssn); Janet Putnam (harp); Paul Chambers (b); Jimmy Cobb (d); Elvin Jones (perc); José Manguel (perc); Gil Evans (arr, cond)

10. March 1960 (b)
Miles Davis (tpt.); Ernie Royal (tpt.); Bernie Glow (tpt.); Johnny Coles (tpt.); Louis Mucci (tpt.); Dick Hixon (tb.); Frank Rehak (tb.); Jimmy Buffington (frh.); Joe Singer (frh.); Tony Miranda (frh.); Bill Barber (tuba); Al Block (fl); Harold Feldman (fl); Danny Bank (bcl); Romeo Penque (oboe); Jack Knitzer (bssn); Janet Putnam (harp); Paul Chambers (b); Jimmy Cobb (d); Elvin Jones (perc); José Manguel (perc); Gil Evans (arr, cond)

15. November 1959 (c)
Personnel similar (b) - exact details unknown

All tracks were recorded at Columbia 30th Street Studio, NYC

Tracklisting

1 Concierto de Aranjuez
2 Will O' the Wisp
3 The Pan Piper
4 Saeta
5 Solea