Miles Espanol

Various (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 27, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Entertainment One Music
• ASIN: B005DZMN98
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,479 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #43 in Music > Jazz > Latin Jazz
  • #44 in Music > World Music > Latin Music > General AAS

Editorial Reviews

The Jazz Recording Event of 2011. Conceived and Produced by Bob Belden, Miles Espanol is an amazing journey into the Spanish soul of Miles Davis---and beyond.
In May of 2010, a group of Miles Davis alumni, New Yorks finest Latin Jazz players, and a contingent of exceptional Spanish flamenco musicians, gathered at Sear Sound Studios in Manhattan for an unprecedented recording event.
MILES ESPANOL travels more deeply than ever before into the connective tissue between the jazz innovations of Miles Davis and the modern masters who performed in his bands; and the dramatic, romantic soul of Spanish, Latin and Moorish traditional and contemporary music.
Two CDs of material were recorded, blending two different categories of repertoire.
New interpretations and arrangements of Miles classics from Sketches Of Spain ( Concierto de Aranjuez , Saeta/Pan Piper Medley , Solea ), Kind Of Blue ( Flamenco Sketches ), and Someday My Price Will Come ( Teo aka Teo/Neo .)
New compositions by principals in the sessions Chick Corea, Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, etc. that enhance and extend the musical concepts into the multicultural language of 21st Century Jazz.
THE PLAYERS - Chick Corea, Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield, Ron Carter, Sammy Figueroa, Sonny Fortune, Alex Acuña, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Rabih Abu-Khalil, Chano Domínguez, Jorge Pardo, Carles Benavent, Eddie Gomez, Jerry Gonzalez, Cristina Pato, Jaco Abe, Edsel Gomez, Adam Rudolph, Brahim Fribgane, Edmar Castañeda, Niño Josele, Antonio Sanchez, John Benitez.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing like it...ever. October 3, 2011

By Constant Listener

Format:Audio CD

I heard about this album on NPR's All Things Considered yesterday and immediately downloaded it, though I will also buy the CD. It's impossible to describe how creative and colorful this music is. It blends Jazz and Spanish and Latin Jazz and even Moroccan sounds so seamlessly that it almost creates a new music category. The players are all performing at peak creativity, especially Chick Corea (who really is making some of the best music of his life these days), Gonzalo Rubalcaba, John Scofield. But there are also a ton of musicians here that I've never heard of and who I want to find out more about.

The original Miles Davis/Gil Evans Sketches of Spain is a masterpiece, and shouldn't be compared to Miles Espanol. But in many respects I'm finding this album deeper and more fascinating because it draws more connections in the Spanish/Jazz mix and is vastly more varied in its sound approaches. I don't know if that opinion will maintain over the years, but who says one has to choose? Miles Espanol is an extraordinary journey and should not be missed. Worth every penny and then some.

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Miles in Spain October 10, 2011

By Robert B. Shepherd

Format:MP3 Music

I recently spent a week in Spain examining Spanish culture, specifically its music. The nation has an amazing history as it combines both traditional Christian concepts (typically Catholic) with a Muslim moorish influence. In certain parts of the country, particularly Galacia, the Celtic influence left by the Celtiberian people is also heavily felt. The result, as is practically always the case when different cultures meld into one musical form, is brilliant music.

Miles Davis' classic cd Sketches of Spain tried to bring this interesting art form of Spanish music with traditional conceptualizations of classical and jazz music. While that album is rightfully a brilliant classic and the work of Miles and Gil Evans on it was breathtaking, the album itself misses a certain rawness. This rawness I believe originates itself in traditional Spanish music yet was dampened by Miles and Evans melding in more classical influences.

Miles Espanol, however, fills this gap as it maintains its status as a jazz album while also further exploring this rawness. In Miles Espanol, one can hear the melding of cultural influences throughout the nation of Spain as Middle Eastern influences are represented by artists such as Rabih Abou-Khalil on the oud (check out his cd Al-Jadida where he plays with Sonny Fortune if you want to find more of his amazing work), more traditional Spanish sound is presented by artists like guitarman Niño Josele, and even the Celtiberian influence is felt through bagpiper Cristina Pato (her work is generally incredible). These influences are then melded with the work of contemporary jazz legends who played with Miles including Chick Corea, Ron Carter, Sonny Fortune, Jack DeJohnette and John Scofield.

In essence, what this album does is take Sketches of Spain to the next level. It adds the rawness missed by the original yet also pays respect to Miles' masterpiece. If you enjoyed Miles from India, you are going to absolutely love this album. I recommend it for anyone even the least bit interested in Spanish music, modern jazz, and cultural fusion music.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Flamenco Jazz Magic November 25, 2011

By Scott Williams

Format:Audio CD

Overview:
Bob Beldon is following up his hit album "Miles From India" with another two disc album inspired by Miles Davis' music. This time the muse is Davis's Sketches of Spain album and other "Spanish" influenced jazz pieces. The album features an all star cast including Rabih Abou Khalil, Ron Carter, John Scofield, Gonzalo Rubalcabla, Jack Dejohnnette, Chick Corea, Antonio Sanchez, Adam Rudolph and many more stars. While the music is inspired by a period in Davis's career, the songs are not limited to the Davis cannon. In fact only two of songs are penned by Davis. Many of the songs are written by the muscians on the album. The CD offers great variety in sound and format. Some pieces feature larger ensembles with 10+ musicians, while other songs feature a group as small as a duet. It all flows together nicely despite the variety in format. For me what really elevates the album from a great album to a classic was the inclusion of two of my favorite musicians, Rabih Abou-Khalil and Adam Rudolph. Abou-Khalil is not only a great oud player but he is a legendardy composer and arranger as well. Beldon was wise enough to include a Khalil composition on the CD (Three Miles). Adam Rudolph is a fantastic percussionist and master of world music and jazz fusion. He plays a variety of instruments on this album that really add to the color and depth.

Song Highlights:
Saeta / Pan Piper - Cristina Pato's bagpipe (yes bagpipe) is haunting and beautiful in this piece. The chillng opening line conjures up images of an early morning Islam call to worship. After this killer intro the piece flows nicely into the traditional Gill Evans arrangement.

Duende - This is a beautiful flamenco guitar and flute duet between Jorge Pardo and Nino Joseles. I'm not normally a fan of a duet without percussion, but this is perfection. The guitar and flute just balance each other out perfectly. I've always been a fan of the pairing on guitar and flute and this piece demonstrates why.

Fatasia Por Miles Y Gil - The liner notes don't list the piano, bass, drum trio that play on this piece, they just list the leader Gonzalo Rubalcaba. It is a wonderful composition and brilliantly performed. The title perfectly captures the creative and wandering mood of the piece.

Concierto De Aranjuez, Just Three Miles, are also very strong pieces. The first CD is stronger than the second CD but both are good.