Miles Davis: Sketches Of Spain (180g, Yellow Colored Vinyl) Vinyl LP

180 gram limited color pressing. This album pairs up Miles Davis with arranger and composer Gil Evans.  The compositions are inspired by traditional Spanish folk music and go in a different direction than the pair's previous two records together.  Evans' arrangements make effective use of wind instruments where other composers would have turned to strings.  Flute, trumpet and trombone make the bed for Davis' lead.  Miles seems to have gained some Andalusian gypsy ancestry with this record.  His trumpet playing evokes the cante hondo guitar stylings found in folk music from the region.  When talking about this record Davis is quoted as having said, "I always manage to try something I can't do."  He appears to wipe that sentiment away with his effortless improvising over the complex score that Evans has crafted. 5 tracks in all.

• 180g yellow colored vinyl
• stereo sound
• limited edition
• featuring Miles Davis (t), Paul Chambers (b), Jimmy Cobb (d), Elvin Jones (d) + more
• music label: Columbia 2021

reviewed by DRM 09/2012