MILES ESPAÑOL: New Sketches of Spain
eOne Music, 2011

WORLD JAZZ – Producer Bob Belden goes deep in his follow-up to Miles from India, using the classic Miles Davis/Gil Evans suite Sketches of Spain as a launching pad for a much larger, more diverse set that incorporates a spectrum of Spanish traditional music: flamenco is in the center, but Belden stretches way back to North African and Gypsy roots and forward to contemporary Latin jazz. He throws a couple dozen musicians into the mix, including jazz superstars (Chick Corea, Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette), a battery of top-flight percussionists, oud, horns, harp, guitars… it’s all interesting and well-played, but the originals on Disc 1 are particularly good.

Fo’s Picks: Disc I – 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Disc II – 2, 5, 6, 7, 8

DISC ONE

1. 9:28 – harp intro, lots of oud: slow drama gives way to hard rhythmic pulse
2. 10:04 – bright, surging quartet: Chick Corea piano, busy flute, solid rhythm
3. 9:40 – dark, brooding oud & trumpet showcase: a North African caravan
4. 4:53 – flamenco guitar/flute duo, gets the juices flowing
5. 5:13 – piano trio, dark & heavy: spare piano, exotic bass, embracing drums
6. 5:13 – great sound! swift sintir/bata drum pulse, breaks down to a cool strut
7. 4:08 – modern-latin jazz with soprano sax, lightly tripping piano, tricky time
8. 7:45 – bagpipe! Intro has moaning vocal, then rides on modal riffs with harp

DISC TWO

1. 10:27 – latin jazz quartet: dynamic drums & flute; starts lyrical, then jumps
2. 7:12 – starts as soft ballad, gradually picks up steam, becomes a latin romp
3. 4:57 – light flamenco sway: lilting guitar & electric bass, upbeat piano
4. 7:04 – jazz walk; all-star quartet with electric guitar but not much spark
5. 5:13 – solo piano (Gonzalo Rubalcaba): spare but rich, bittersweet, exotic
6. 9:00 – piano trio with a rolling rhythm; sinuous solos all around
7. 7:32 – bright piano/guitar flamenco duet
8. 7:15 – flamenco jam: slow intro, handclaps & accordion, great guitar, fades

[ Fo ] - November 2011