ProJazz.net

Sketches of Spain is a studio album by American jazz musician Miles Davis, released on July 18, 1960, by Columbia Records. Sketches of Spain is regarded as an exemplary recording of third stream, a musical fusion of jazz, European classical, and styles from world music.

Reception.

The AllMusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 5 stars out of 5 and stated:”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.”

In a contemporary review for DownBeat, Bill Mathieu hailed Sketches of Spain as one of the 20th century’s most important musical works so far and a highly intellectual yet passionate record.

For Sketches of Spain, Evans and Davis won the 1961 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Composition of More Than Five Minutes Duration. The album was ranked number 358 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

Track listing:
Side one
1. “Concierto de Aranjuez (Adagio)” Joaquín Rodrigo 16:19
2. “Will o’ the Wisp” Manuel de Falla 3:47
Total length: 20:06
Side two
1. “The Pan Piper (Alborada de Vigo)” Traditional, Gil Evans 3:52
2. “Saeta” Traditional, Gil Evans 5:06
3. “Solea” Gil Evans 12:15
Total length: 21:13 41:19
1997 reissue bonus tracks:
6. “Song of Our Country” Heitor Villa-Lobos; arranged by Gil Evans 3:23
7. “Concierto de Aranjuez” (alternate take; part 1) Joaquín Rodrigo 12:04
8. “Concierto de Aranjuez” (alternate take; part 2 ending) Joaquín Rodrigo 3:33
Total length: 60:39

Personnel:
Miles Davis – arranger, trumpet, flugelhorn
Gil Evans – arranger, conductor
Johnny Coles – trumpet
Bernie Glow – trumpet
Taft Jordan – trumpet
Louis Mucci – trumpet
Ernie Royal – trumpet
John Barrows – French horn
James Buffington – French horn
Earl Chapin – French horn
Tony Miranda – French horn
Joe Singer – French horn
Dick Hixon – trombone
Frank Rehak – trombone
Bill Barber – tuba
Jimmy McAllister – tuba
Danny Bank – bass clarinet
Albert Block – flute
Eddie Caine – flute
Harold Feldman – clarinet, flute, oboe
Romeo Penque – oboe
Jack Knitzer – bassoon
Paul Chambers – bass
Jimmy Cobb – drums
Elvin Jones – percussion
Janet Putnam – harp
José Mangual Sr. – castanets
Elden “Buster” Bailey – percussion

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Released: July 18, 1960[1]
Recorded: November 15 & 20, 1959 and March 10, 1960
Studio: Columbia 30th Street Studio, New York City
Length: 41:19
Label: Columbia
Producer: Teo Macero