Openwhyd: The community of music lovers

CHOSEN BY PAUL "What makes us says that a piece “belongs” to a genre? Does it depend on the listener, who can feel like the piece follows an “orthodox” path that defines a genre? Or does it boil down to the will of the composer? After all he should be the one who knows best.
Sketches of Spain highlights this question: not only does it come from distinguished jazz artists – Miles Davis and Gil Evans come to mind - but there is “jazzy” written all over it, from the velvety sound of the trumpet to the vivid and warm colours of the album cover.
And yet, some say that Sketches of Spain has nothing to do with “true” jazz. Whether it be the lack of improvisational parts, the stretched music with little to no harmony, the overall still setting, the arguments are both numerous and compelling. However, Sketches of Spain is full of redeeming qualities: its contemplative stillness will soothe your mind while its lavish musical texture will delight your ears. So, granted, it might not be true jazz at its core, but is it what really matters? As Davis himself said, “it’s music, and I like it”."