Flamenco Sketches

On 2012’s Flamenco Sketches, Spanish pianist Chano Dominguez reinterprets the 1959 Miles Davis classic Kind of Blue by bringing traditional Spanish elements to the music. Dominguez is joined by bassist Mario Rossy, percussionist Israel Suarez, and vocalist Blas Cordoba. Cordoba and Tomas Moreno also add palmas: the distinctive handclaps that are a key part of flamenco. The opening title track is fairly straight-ahead jazz until Cordoba lets loose on flamenco vocals, creating a striking juxtaposition. Later, percussion kicks in and Dominguez spins out flamenco lines on piano. The next cut, a bluesy “Freddie Freeloader,” is colored by percussion and palmas. Those two long tracks take up almost half the album’s length. Moreno's also a dancer, and his percussive footwork contributes greatly to a dark-toned version of “So What.” “Nardis,” a Davis original recorded by pianist Bill Evans, is another standout. One intriguing passage features plucked piano-string tones meshing with quiet percussion. The album closes with “Serpent’s Tooth,” wrapping things up on a speedy, upbeat note.