The Procession, 2020

Miles Davis's album “Sketches of Spain”, particularly the songs titled “Saeta” and “Solea”, was the inspiration behind this composition, which depicts the annual religious procession for Holy Week traditions or Semana Santa. The Semana Santa is the telling of The Passion of Christ story of Jesus’s arrest, trial, crucifixion, and resurrection told through a series of processions. Catholic brotherhoods or fraternities whose origins stretch back to the Middle Ages almost exclusively make up these solemn and somber parades. Miles with his trumpet is neither leading nor following the procession below; he is a part of the procession, sonically contributing to a custom which dates back to the 15th century - a testament to the dexterity and adaptability of Black American musical tradition in all of its iterations.