In 1981, two years after Circle In The Round, Columbia once again came out with previously unreleased recordings, covering a slightly shorter period than in the earlier album—from March 1960 to May 1970. Who could have imagined that “Song Of Our Country” would be a magnificent epilogue to Sketches Of Spain? The decidedly pop “Water On The Pond” immediately drew the listener in; its guitar, bells, and electric keyboards were a confirmation of the mysterious turning point that occurred in the winter of 1967-68. The martial tone of “Directions” and the pastoral mood of “Ascent” signaled the rise of Joe Zawinul the following winter, accompanied by the addition of a soprano sax and multiple keyboards, Dave Holland’s appearance, and Jack DeJohnette’s furious rhythmic convulsions, which break with Tony Williams’ virtuoso structures. In 1970 the funk grooves of “Duran” and “Willie Nelson” and the signature of John McLaughlin pointed to the transition towards Jack Johnson, while the pastoral tones and the berimbau of “Konda” were a reminder that in the spring of 1970, Miles was listening to the Brazilian composer Hermeto Pascoal.
Original issue: Columbia LP KC2 36474 in February 1981
Producers: Teo Macero, all tracks except Disc 1, track 2, Irving Townsend
Engineers: Fred Plaut (Disc 1, tracks 1, 3-5), Harold Chapman (Disc 1, track 2), Frank Laico (Disc 1, track 6), Stan Tonkel (Disc 1, tracks 7, 8; Disc 2, all tracks)
March 10, 1960 (a)
Miles Davis (tpt); Ernie Royal (tpt); Bernie Glow (tpt); Johnny Coles (tpt); Louis Mucci (tpt); Dick Hixon (tb); Frank Rehak (tb); Jimmy Buffington (frh); Joe Singer (frh); Tony Miranda (frh); Bill Barber (tuba); Al Block (fl); Harold Feldman (fl); Danny Bank (bcl); Romeo Penque (oboe); Jack Knitzer (bssn); Janet Putnam (harp); Paul Chambers (b); Jimmy Cobb (d); Elvin Jones (perc); José Mangual (perc); Gil Evans (arr, cond)
Columbia 30th Street Studio, NYC
April 22, 1961 (b)
Miles Davis (tpt); Hank Mobley (ts); Wynton Kelly (p); Paul Chambers (b); Jimmy Cobb (d)
Recorded live at the Blackhawk, San Francisco, CA
April 16, 1963 (c)
Miles Davis (tpt); George Coleman (ts); Victor Feldman (p); Ron Carter (b); Frank Butler (d)
Columbia Studios, Los Angeles, CA
May 9, 1967 (d)
Miles Davis (tpt); Wayne Shorter (ts); Herbie Hancock (p); Buster Williams (b); Tony Williams (d)
Columbia Studios, Los Angeles, CA
December 28, 1967 (e)
Miles Davis (tpt, chimes, tubular bells); Wayne Shorter (ts); Herbie Hancock (el-p, clavinet); Joe Beck (el-g); Ron Carter (b); Tony Williams (d)
Columbia Studio B, NYC
January 12, 1968 (f)
Miles Davis (tpt); Wayne Shorter (ts); Bucky Pizzarelli (el-g); Herbie Hancock (el-harpsichord); Ron Carter (b); Tony Williams (d)
Columbia Studio B, NYC
November 27, 1968 (g)
Miles Davis (tpt); Wayne Shorter (ss, ts); Chick Corea (el-p); Herbie Hancock (el-p); Josef Zawinul (el-p, org); Dave Holland (b, el-b); Jack DeJohnette (d, perc); Teo Macero (perc)
Columbia Studio B, NYC
February 27, 1970 (h)
Miles Davis (tpt); Steve Grossman (ss); John McLaughlin (el-g); Dave Holland (el-b); Jack DeJohnette (d)
Columbia Studios, NYC
March 17, 1970 (i)
Miles Davis (tpt); Wayne Shorter (ss); Bennie Maupin (bcl); John McLaughlin (el-g); Dave Holland (el-b); Billy Cobham (d)
Columbia Studios, NYC
May 21, 1970 (j)
Miles Davis (tpt); Keith Jarrett (el-p); John McLaughlin (el-g); Jack DeJohnette (d); Airto Moreira (perc)
Columbia Studios, NYC
DISC 1
- Song of Our Country [a]
- ‘Round Midnight [b]
- So Near, So Far [c]
- Limbo [d]
- Water on the Pond [e]
- Fun [f]
- Directions, No. 1 [g]
- Directions, No. 2 [g]
DISC 2
- Ascent [g]
- Duran [i]
- Konda [j]
- Willie Nelson [h]
