Search - Miles Davis :: Music from Siesta

Oft ignored, but a fantastic album.

Michael Stack | North Chelmsford, MA USA | 12/10/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A sadly overlooked album, "Music from Siesta" is a soundtrack composed largely by Marcus Miller featuring Miles Davis. Styled as a modern-day Sketches of Spain with Miller in the role of Gil Evans, providing a platform for which Davis can solo, the album remarkably succeeds at its billing.



Miller provides a backdrop of Spanish rhythms and sounds not unlike Evans did, although, Miller handles most of the instruments (primarily synthesizers, bass guitar and bass clarinet) other than the trumpet himself, with occasional guest spots. Out of Davis, he coaxes the sort of aching beauty and tormented balladry that made Sketches of Spain so great, with Davis digging deep providing delicate solos on the backdrop established by Miller. That Davis was inspired is clear from his handling of the motif on opener "Lost in Madrid, Part 1", that this performance is something special becomes plainly obvious in the interplay between Davis and Miller (on bass clarinet) on "Theme for Augustine" a couple tracks later.



By and large, the album continues in this fashion, Davis is emotive and powerful over a stirring backdrop (and perhaps the most emotive synthesizers you'll ever hear, as in "Lament"). Along the way, we also see fantastic spotlights for guitarist John Scofield (guesting on Spanish-tinged acoustic on "Siesta") and Miller, who steals the show with his gut wrenching bass clarinet performance on "Kiss" and his endless elegance on fretless bass guitar on "Conchita".



The bottom line is, this is an album that is criminally overlooked-- where Evans chose an orchestra as his instrument to counter Davis, Miller chose a swirl of synthesizers and acoustic instruments. The results are the same though, intensely powerful performances from Davis. Highly recommended."

An obscure treasure discovered

Case Quarter | CT USA | 10/23/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"the compositions are by marcus miller, dedicated to the late gil evans. there's no getting away from this being spanish music. miller looks over his shoulder at sketches of spain, but not so that siesta is a tribute or variation of sketches of spain. where evans used an orchestra, miller uses synthesizers, influenced by weather report and aura.



miles davis's tone is reminiscent of the gil evans period. the album that most comes to mind is porgy and bess.



as music outside the film the music as cd stands on its own. there will be times i'll say this is one of my favorite miles recordings."