In 1981, two years after Circle In The Round, Columbia once again came out with previously unreleased recordings, covering a slightly shorter period than in the earlier album—from March 1960 to May 1970. Who could have imagined that “Song Of Our Country” would be a magnificent epilogue to Sketches Of Spain? The decidedly pop “Water On The Pond” immediately drew the listener in; its guitar, bells, and electric keyboards were a confirmation of the mysterious turning point that occurred in the winter of 1967-68. The martial tone of “Directions” and the pastoral mood of “Ascent” signaled the rise of Joe Zawinul the following winter, accompanied by the addition of a soprano sax and multiple keyboards, Dave Holland’s appearance, and Jack DeJohnette’s furious rhythmic convulsions, which break with Tony Williams’ virtuoso structures. In 1970 the funk grooves of “Duran” and “Willie Nelson” and the signature of John McLaughlin pointed to the transition towards Jack Johnson, while the pastoral tones and the berimbau of “Konda” were a reminder that in the spring of 1970, Miles was listening to the Brazilian composer Hermeto Pascoal.