2 CD Set (not a DVD)
"He can read my mind and I can read his" - Miles Davis, on Gil Evans
SKETCHES OF SPAIN was the third collaboration (after MILES AHEAD, 1957, and PORGY AND BESS, 1958) between Miles Davis and Gil Evans for Columbia Records, and reunited the charismatic trumpeter with Gil Evans (1912 - 1988) following the 1959 recording of KIND OF BLUE. It is in these late 50's recordings that Miles Davids (1926 - 1991) emerges as one of the supremem lyric-expressive players in jazz, representing as well a high point in his career and the culmination - at least temporarily - of a decade-long artistic stylistic journey.
The centrepiece of the five tracks that comprised the original 1960 LP release of SKETCHES OF SPAIN is "Concierto de Aranjuez", originally written for guitar and orchestra by Joaquin Rodrigo in 1939. A msterpiece of it's kind, it seemed tailor-made for Gil's and Miles's purposes, and provided for their inspiration for the album's all Spanish/Andalusian flamenco theme. What attracted both men to this rather melancholy music, filled with a sense of longing and lonlieness, was its intrinsic kinship with the blues. Both idioms flow from the same emotional blood-lines as expressions of resistance to oppression and inhumanity. In this context, Miles was able to further discover his own distinctive voice and sound, and Evans was the one arranger/composer who could provide him with the appropriate complimentary orchestral settings that would accommodate Miles's unique talents. The rest is history.
This historic edition presents the original album augmented by alternate and extra tracks, illustrating how this synergy developed. "Maids of Cadiz" (from the 1957 album MILES AHEAD)is the first example of Gil Evans adapting a composition of Spanish original for an orchestral collaboration with Miles. The live performance of "Concierto de Aranjuez" the only such ever given, took place in Carnegie Hall in 1961, offering a rare, heightened performance of this centerpiece "Teo" (from the 1961 album SOMEDAY MY PRINCE WILL COME) a small group piece dedicated to Producer Teo Macero, is simpatico sith "Solea" - the other jewel from the original album, with its orchestral palette that is , in a word sublime.
Includes a new essay buy Gunther Schluter, and bonus PDF digital booklet with rare photos, clipping and previously unpublished documents related to the recording session.
Track Listing - DISC 1
1. CONCIERTO DE ARANJUEZ (ADAGIO)
2. WILL O' THE WISP
3. THE PAN PIPER
4. SAETA
5. SOLEA
6. SONG OF OUR COUNTRY
DISC 2
1. MAIDS OF CADIZ
2. CONCIERTO DE ARANJUEZ (ADAGIO) rehearsal take, incomplete w/o Miles Davis
3. CONCIERTO DE ARANJUEZ (ADAGIO) alternate take, part one
4. CONCIERTO DE ARANJUEZ (ADAGIO) alternate take, part two
5. CONCIERTO DE ARANJUEZ (AGAGIO) alternate ending
6. THE PAN PIPER
7. SONG OF OUR COUNTRY take 9 w/o ntro
8. SONG OF OUR COUNTRY take 14, slower tempo w/o intro
9. SAETA full version of Master
10. CONCIERTO DE ARANJUEZ (ADAGIO) live
11. TEO
