Ian Ernest Gilmore Evans (né Green; May 13, 1912 – March 20, 1988)[1] was a Canadian–American jazz pianist, arranger, composer and bandleader. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest orchestrators in jazz, playing an important role in the development of cool jazz, modal jazz, free jazz, and jazz fusion. He is best known for his acclaimed collaborations with Miles Davis. (wikipedia)
A superb jazz arranger and bandleader, Gil Evans rivaled Ellington and Mingus in his ability to provide imaginative frameworks for individual voices within a large orchestra. He wrote elaborate, intricate arrangements that didn’t weaken or threaten his band’s spontaneity. His most renowned work came in the late ’50s, when Miles Davis signed with Columbia and brought Evans into the studio with a large ensemble. The resultant albums — Miles Ahead (1957), Porgy and Bess (1958), Sketches of Spain (1959) — became milestones in the careers of both men. Evans was hardly a purist; he began using electronics in his bands in the ’70s and scandalized some by recording Jimi Hendrix material. His style got looser in later years, with more space and less precision, but certainly his music remained compelling. Evans’ harmonic language, compositional and arranging skill were immense, and he was responsible for many masterpieces through either his arrangements, compositions, or conducting. (by Ron Wynn)
A gifted pianist, composer and bandleader, Gil Evans is widely recognized as one of the greatest orchestrators in jazz, playing an important role in the development of cool jazz, modal jazz, free jazz, and jazz fusion.
Gil Evans is best known for music he wrote between 1957 and 1963 for his 19-piece orchestra, which backed trumpeter Miles Davis. The albums Sketches of Spain and Porgy and Bess were hailed for their rich harmonies and use of instruments not usually associated with jazz big bands. But in a 1980 interview, Evans said he wanted to use orchestral instruments in a new way: “Many great compositions have been written with the traditional sound of the orchestra. You know what I mean? Nothing much has been added to it as far as sound is concerned.”
Evans gave the orchestra a different sound by creating unusual harmonies, using colors he borrowed from Debussy, Ravel and Stravinsky. “I got the harmonic language from the French, Spanish and Russian Impressionists,” he said in the same interview. “That’s where the harmony comes from.”
In the 1960s, Evans updated his orchestra with electric guitars and synthesizers, but he continued to harmonize with his “close” note chords. In 1983, a week before his 71st birthday, Evans sat at the piano in his cramped New York apartment, took a toke on the marijuana in his pipe and showed me how he harmonized the Jimi Hendrix song “Up From the Skies.”
“It’s got a certain spice to it, right? Because the notes are close,” he said.
Evans said he never made a cent off any of his records — but he was cool with that. “I started out as an arranger,” he said. “If I’d known at the time it was such a loser’s game, I wouldn’t have done it, because the arranger doesn’t get any royalties. But I had so much fun doing it, I never even thought of that at the time.”
Evans said there was no use complaining about the past; he was only interested in what was happening now. He died at the age of 75 in 1988. (npr.org)
Enjoy another concert highlight, conducted by true master !
Thanks to Jazzrita and Lewojazz for sharing the show at Dime.
Recorded live at the Festival International du Jazz,
Juan-les-Pins, Antibes, France; July 21, 1978.
Very good FM broadcast.
Personnel:
Arthur Blythe (saxophone)
Gil Evans (piano)
Sue Evans (percussion)
Steve Lacy (saxophone)
Pete Levin (synthesizer)
Earl McIntyre (trombone, tuba)
Don Pate (bass)
Lew Soloff (trumpet, fluegelhorn)
Alternate frontcover:
Tracklist:
01. Stone Free (Hendrix) 16.41
02. Thoughbread (Harper/Evans) 20.37
03. Listen To The Silence (Evans) 16.27
04. Waltz (Evans) 17.22
05. Variations In Misery (Evans) 16.31
Ian Ernest Gilmore Evans (né Green; May 13, 1912 – March 20, 1988) was a Canadian–American jazz pianist, arranger, composer and bandleader. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest orchestrators in jazz, playing an important role in the development of cool jazz, modal jazz, free jazz, and jazz fusion. He is best known for his acclaimed collaborations with Miles Davis. (wikipedia)
arrangements for the albums Miles Ahead, Porgy and Bess, and Sketches of Spain (later came Quiet Nights). Evans also played piano on some sessions. These, and his 1958 album New Bottle Old Wine remain landmark works. His own intriguing releases in the ’60s included Out of the Cool, Into the Hot, and The Individualism of Gil Evans.
Tracklist:
ManyFantasticColors 