A lot has been said about Miles Davis’ influence on jazz. Across his career, he was on the bleeding edge of several seismic shifts in the genre. And while much has been said about his accomplishments in bebop, cool jazz, and fusion, his brief foray into Third Stream jazz often feels like a sort of inconsequential detour in his overall trajectory.
But there’s nothing insignificant about Sketches of Spain. It is one of the most brightly shining gems in Davis’ illustrious career. The album finds him fully embracing his lifelong love of classical music, fused with his impeccable sense of style and melody.