Miles Davis – Sketches of Spain (1981 CBS/Sony Japan Vinyl LP)

Reissued in 1981 by CBS/Sony Japan (18AP 2057) as part of the Miles 25 anniversary series, Sketches of Spain stands as one of Miles Davis’s most transcendent works — a breathtaking fusion of jazz, classical, and Spanish folk influences. Originally recorded in 1959–60 with arranger and conductor Gil Evans, the album redefined the expressive possibilities of orchestral jazz.

At its heart is the haunting re-imagining of Joaquín Rodrigo’s “Concierto de Aranjuez”, with Davis’s muted trumpet floating above Gil Evans’s lush, painterly orchestrations. The suite continues with Will o’ the Wisp from Falla’s El Amor Brujo, and original compositions like The Pan Piper, Saeta, and Solea — each blending Iberian rhythms, flamenco inflections, and modal improvisation into something entirely new.

Evans’s arrangements draw on an extraordinary ensemble: Paul Chambers on bass, Jimmy Cobb on drums, Elvin Jones on percussion, and a woodwind and brass section including Danny Bank, Jack Knitzer, Jim Buffington, and Bill Barber. The result is music of cinematic depth and spiritual grace — at once intimate and expansive.

This Japanese pressing from 1981 exemplifies CBS/Sony’s meticulous production standards, with superb sound quality and beautifully reproduced packaging from the Miles 25 series. A cornerstone of the Davis-Evans partnership, Sketches of Spain remains a masterpiece of atmosphere, emotion, and innovation.

Vinyl: EX
Sleeve: VG+
Obi: None

Our grading system explained here.

Photo is of the actual item.