Nicholas Payton: Sketches of Spain
Author: Mike Hobart
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Musicians: |
Daniel Sadownik (perc) |
Label: |
BMF Records |
Magazine Review Date: |
February/2014 |
Catalogue Number: |
BMF002 |
RecordDate: |
2013 |
It's great that an organisation like the Simphonie Orchestra Basel should take on the task of transcribing the iconic Miles Davis/Gil Evans collaboration Sketches of Spain for a live performance. And even better that they had the nous to chose Nicholas Payton to play the lead role. The orchestra doesn't quite get the delicate sheen of the original and are a little too precise on ‘Saeta’. But they are not far off. And Payton gets the Davis phrasing and tone before turning on his own box of tricks. The trouble is, the original is so entrenched, that, on first listen, differences can seem like blemishes. The rhythm section is more percussive and swings harder and Payton projects a different shade of blue. ‘Concierto de Aranguez’ is close to the original, but by the end the band are cooking and Payton is riffing and spitting phonics. It's not a radical re-interpretation, but there are fresh angles and it sounds great. Just keep Miles out of mind.

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