Barcelona is at the centre of a new book on Miles Davis, which traces the jazz legend's nine concerts and visits across Catalonia, along with stops in Valencia, Palma and Andorra. Miles Davis, Sketches of Catalonia, published by Grup Enderrock and edited by journalist Pere Pons, marks what would have been Davis's 100th birthday on 26 May.
The book brings together 20 texts from different authors, including some first published in a 2011 issue of Jaç magazine. Its main chapter sets out Davis's nine appearances in the region and adds short anecdotes from each visit. Grup Enderrock is the publisher, and the book is presented as a Catalan perspective on his life and career. More local news
Davis's first planned visit, in 1967 for the II Barcelona International Jazz Festival, ended without a concert. According to a chapter by the late journalist Albert Mallofré, who was the festival's artistic adviser and met Davis at the airport, the trumpeter left after a telephone argument with his representative. Instead of playing at the Palau de la Música, he spent time shopping on Passeig de Gràcia and looking for a boxing gym.
His first actual Barcelona concert came in 1973, also at the Jazz Festival. That show nearly did not happen either, because the truck carrying his instruments was held up at the border. Alfredo Papo, a long-time member of the Hot Club de Barcelona, wrote that he confronted Davis and threatened police action, which led the musician to agree to play one of the two scheduled shows with rented instruments.
Later Barcelona dates were less troubled. Davis played at the Palau d'Esports for the Jazz Festival in 1984 and 1989, and at Poble Espanyol for the Grec Festival in 1986 and 1987. Outside Barcelona, the book records concerts at the Plaça de Bous in Valencia in 1985, the Auditòrium de Palma in 1986, and the Escaldes-Engordany Jazz Festival in Andorra in 1989.
The book also notes a surprise appearance during the final minutes of a B.B. King concert at the Palau de la Música in 1973. Davis was due to perform the next day at the same festival. A planned jam session at Sala Zeleste on Carrer de l'Argenteria did not go ahead because his trumpet was at his hotel.
Another chapter gathers views from Catalan musicians, including several trumpeters, on Davis's influence. Bassist Carles Benavent, known for his electric bass work in flamenco with Paco de Lucía and Camarón de la Isla, is the only Catalan musician to have played with Davis. That happened in Montreux, where Davis and Quincy Jones were looking for a bassist for two pieces from Sketches of Spain.
Pons said that if he could have interviewed Davis, he would have asked about his ability to anticipate and lead change in music. The book presents Davis as an artist who shaped jazz through his sound, his collaborators and his ability to adapt to each era, while also showing how his concerts left a mark on Catalan musicians and audiences.
