Gil Evans Orchestra - Great Jazz Standards
Gil Evans - piano [click here to see more vinyl featuring Gil Evans]
Bass – Dick Carter (A1, A2, B1), Tommy Potter (A3, A4, B2, B3)
Drums – Dennis Charles (A1, A2, B1)
Drums - Elvin Jones (A3, A4, B2, B3) [click here to see more vinyl featuring Elvin Jones]
French Horn – Earl Chapin (A3, A4, B2, B3), Bob Nothern (A1, A2, B1)
Guitar – Chuck Wayne (A1, A2, B1)
Soprano Saxophone – Steve Lacey
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Budd Johnson (A3, A4, B2, B3)
Trombone – Bill Elton (A1, A2, B1), Curtis Fuller, Dick Lieb (A1, A2, B1), Jimmy Cleveland (A3, A4, B2, B3), Rod Levitt (A3, A4, B2, B3)
Trumpet – Allen Smith (A1, A2, B1), Danny Stiles (A3, A4, B2, B3), Johnny Coles, Louis Mucci
Tuba – Bill Barber
Woodwind – Al Block (A1, A2, B1), Ed Caine (A3, A4, B2, B3)
Conducted by Gil Evans
1 LP, standard sleeve
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : Black
Speed : 33 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : Pallas
Label : Pure Pleasure
Original Label : World Pacific Records
Recorded 5 February 1959 in New York City
Produced by Richard Bock
Remastered by Kevin Gray, Steve Hoffman
Originally released in 1959
Reissued in 2009
Tracks:
Side A:
- Davenport Blues
- Straight No Chaser
- Ballad of the Sad Young Men
- Joy Spring
Side B
- Django
- Chant of the Weed
- La Nevada (Theme)
Reviews:
"Pure Pleasure’s musical archeological digs have managed to find some interesting obscurities, this Gil Evans session from 1959 being one of them. It certainly deserves to be brought to your attention...an atmospheric, cinematic approach to playing and arranging that is as startling and evocative today as it must have been back in 1959...if you appreciate this arrangers art and wish to hear it realized fully through a series of mostly recognizable jazz standards packed with great soloing, your listening will be well-rewarded." Michael Fremer, Analog Planet
“Lacy's solos on Monk's "Straight No Chaser" and John Lewis' "Django" must be some of the finest pre-free improvisations he recorded, already heading from quirky to out-there. Johnson's clarinet solo on Don Redman's spooky, swing-meets-whole tone classic, "Chant Of The Weed," and slow-burning, stirring tenor solo on Evans' "La Nevada" are some of the finest the all-but-forgotten genius ever recorded. Trumpeter Johnny Coles, has the inevitable misfortune of being compared to Miles Davis and being found to be... different. Sunny, open and extroverted, he may not be a stylist of Davis' proportions, but he's an enjoyable alternative foil for Evans' arrangements. A magnificent but neglected album, and still coming up fresh as daisies.” Chris May, All About Jazz
“A follow-up to New Bottle, Old Wine, this Gil Evans set has colorful arrangements of five jazz standards plus "Ballad of the Sad Young Men" and Evans' "Theme." Using a band consisting of three trumpets, three trombones, a French horn, Bill Barber's tuba, soprano-saxophonist Steve Lacy (the first important post-swing player on his instrument), tenor saxophonist Budd Johnson (on half of the program), and a four-piece rhythm section (including the leader's piano), Evans contributes some very memorable written ensemble passages, most notably on "Straight No Chaser." In addition to Lacy and Johnson, the main soloists are trumpeter Johnny Coles, trombonists Curtis Fuller and Jimmy Cleveland, and guitarist Ray Crawford. Highly recommended.” AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow
Ratings :
AllMusic 4 / 5 ; Discogs : 4.16 / 5