Sketches of Spain
Year: 1960
Format: Digital
Grade: A
Coming less than one year after the legendary Kind of Blue, Miles Davis' Sketches of Spain feels like a tonal descendent of Blue, incorporating many of the themes of modal and cool jazz into the mix.
But, as the title suggests, Latin jazz is an influence. In the towering opening number, a cover of Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez," Davis peppers the performance with a precise flugelhorn playing while arranger and composer Gil Evans turns it into a third-stream adagio piece, bringing classical elements to the mix.
While Davis' control is the most remarkable point of his playing through most of his career, it's particularly impressive on "Aranjuez." The Latin flavor isn't played for overdramatic effect either — it's there, but it's not a dominant force.
The remaining two-thirds of Sketches are strong, but "Aranjuez" sets a benchmark to which the rest of the record aims, but doesn't quite hit. That isn't to say that it's poor, but more to suggest the greatness of the opening cut.
Ever the adventurer, Davis stretched into Latin themes with Sketches with the same care and acumen he brought to so many of his other efforts.
Tomorrow's entry: Sufjan Stevens, Songs for Christmas
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