Gil Evans [Import]

Gil Evans [Import]

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Japanese limited edition Verve label jazz reissue featuring24 bit remastering & the original artwork reproduced as a miniature gatefold LP sleeve. 2000 release.

Gil Evans,Gil Evans,Pid,Jazz

Jazz

Music

jazz

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Sketches of Spain
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Classijazz? Jazzical?
  • Spanish love song...
  • From Madrid w/ Love
  • Music to listen to at day's end
  • Gil Evans provides another dimension for the legendary horn player
Sketches of Spain
Miles Davis , and Gil Evans
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Cool JazzCool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
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  1. Kind of Blue
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  5. Porgy and Bess

ASIN: B000002AH7
Release Date: 1997-09-23

Tracks:

  1. Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio)
  2. Will O' The Wisp
  3. The Pan Piper
  4. Saeta
  5. Solea
  6. Song Of Our Country
  7. Concierto De Aranjuez (Part One)
  8. Concierto De Aranjuez (Part Two Ending)

Amazon.com essential recording

Miles Davis's impact on jazz is almost incalculable. From his early days as a sideman for Charlie Parker, through his groundbreaking Birth of the Cool sessions, to his stunning small groups of the '50s and '60s, through to his electric renaissance, the trumpeter, bandleader, and composer has left a deep mark on all who came after. He is one of jazz's true giants. Sketches of Spain, though one of Davis's most commercially successful sessions, is also one of his most controversial. Re-teaming with arranger and composer Gil Evans, who played such a pivotal role in Davis's 1949 Birth of the Cool recordings, Davis recorded a series of large group albums beginning in the late '50s, including Porgy and Bess, Miles Ahead, and Quiet Nights. Sketches of Spain, with its emphasis on flamenco, rich orchestrations, and relaxed tempos, is certainly one of Davis's most mellow recordings (he even works out on fluegelhorn), and proved to have broad appeal. To some critics, however, the project was "elevated elevator music." An expanded version of the album, featuring alternative tracks and unreleased material, was issued in 1997 by Columbia Legacy. --Fred Goodman

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Classijazz? Jazzical? .......2007-07-02

Hey! This ain't jazz! This is Spanish-tinged classical! With a fanfare that seems fitting to introduce matadors (not a criticism, not a compliment) on "Saeta"! Yeah, that's right. Miles' eclecticism kicks in again, I suppose. It's a bit overrated, and it's controversial even by Miles' standards. I like it though. Other than "Concerto de Aranjeuz". That song, or work, or whatever fails to move me. Now, "Will o' the Wisp", aye, that be a different cup of tea. It really is moving, emotional, haunting, and so forth; so is "The Pan Piper", with an eerie flute melody. "Saeta" starts off like those two, but ends up doing the pompous fanfare thingy, but hey, at least it does it well. And the closing "Solea" is pretty good too! It sounds almost like the Hollywood version of traditional Spanish music, the kind you'd expect to hear when the charming Spanish swordfighter is having a duel in a ballroom, but again, it gets quite intense during its climax around nine minutes in. I like intense. This is easily the best Miles/Evans album. Just to warn you, though, it's quite rigid; as usual, Miles is put on a pedestal above the other guys. I mostly prefer him in a small-group setting. I do, however, recommend Sketches of Spain in spite of that.

5 out of 5 stars Spanish love song..........2007-06-20

Miles Davis working with arranger and composer Gil Evans put together an album that ranked 356 on Rolling Stones Top 500 albums of all time. It is probaly one of his most accessible albums and the tight compositions take you to the Spanish bullfight and quiet burning passion of a long, hot Spanish summer day. Not the the hardblowing, improvisational jazz that everyone associates with Miles but the arrangements and tight composition makes for a very relaxing, enjoyable listen.

5 out of 5 stars From Madrid w/ Love.......2007-05-13

I'm listening to Miles here in Madrid. We've just done the tapas crawl after seeing a bullfight. No kidding. Now, the ipod is playing Sketces....and I've got to tell you that Miles and Gil Evans got it right. In fact, everything they collaborated on was so fantastic. And Miles is Miles. Here, a little more sophisticated than in his "Kind of Blue" phase but, still Miles. The one and only.

5 out of 5 stars Music to listen to at day's end.......2007-02-01

This is a nice disc to listen to after a long day doing just about anything. It is just that soul-reaching and calming. I feel like this CD is a slice of jazz wrapped in a blanket of Mediterranean sunshine. No vocals are needed thanks to the melodic tunes of Miles' horn.

4 out of 5 stars Gil Evans provides another dimension for the legendary horn player.......2006-12-23

While it doesn't have much to do with the music in this review, in 1995 I obtained Tears For Fears' "Raoul and the Kings of Spain" . This was one of the best albums of the 1990s, namely because of the Spanish musical influence that was infused into a mainstream music sound. One of the songs on "Raoul and the Kings of Spain" was an album called "Sketches of Pain". "Sketches of Pain" was an outstanding song because of the use of classical Spanish guitar and percussion. Part of the reason for the title of that Tears For Fears song was a play on the famous Miles Davis album, "Sketches of Spain", which was Davis' album that had music with a Spanish influence. While Miles Davis is basically a household name, I cannot say that I was familiar with a lot of his music. When I realized there was a connection in how Tears For Fears' "Sketches of Pain" related to Davis' Spanish Themed album, I became more curious about checking out this recording. Without doing much research, I assumed this album would be a jazz album with a classical Spanish influence. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to discover a more classical music sound that would have the Spanish theme infused.

"Sketches of Spain" is a collaboration between Miles Davis and Gil Evans. Davis and Evans had begun a partnership in 1957 that saw Davis contribute his trademark horns (Trumpet and Flugelhorn) while Evans focused on the arrangements and conducting of the music. Prior to "Sketches of Spain" there were two efforts. The first was 1957's "Miles Ahead" that saw Davis and Evans engage in a big band/jazz feel. The second was 1958's "Porgy and Bess" which was an arrangement of songs from George Gershwin's opera, "Porgy and Bess". "Porgy and Bess" also saw the combination of Davis ane Evans move toward something that had more of a classical feel to it. I'm sure this provided a lot of the impetus for the duo to do something more in the classical space.

"Sketches of Pain" has its roots around Spanish Classical music. The original 1960 release consisted of five tracks - two are covers of existing Spanish Classical works and the other three were original compositions by Evans. The Spanish works that are covered are Joaquin Rodrigo's 16+ minute masterpiece "Concierto de Aranjuez" and Manuel de Falla's "Will o' the Wisp". Those familiar with Spanish classical music will know the names of Rodrigo and de Falla. This collection was re-released in 2000 and consists of three additional tracks including another original composition by Evans as well as a full alternative take and alternative ending of "Concierto de Aranjuez".

The cover songs, "Concierto de Aranjuez" and "Will o' the Wisp" are going to have less of a reliance on Davis' horns. While Davis' horns can be clearly held throughout the near 20 minutes of music that make up these songs, there is going to be a heavy reliance by the other musicians that contribute to these tracks. When you get into the four original tracks that were composed by Gil Evans, you will hear a big difference. The music is going to focus heavier on the trumpet and flugelhorn of Miles Davis. As you listen to the original tracks, it is amazing how Evans was able to integrate the sound to give the entire "Sketches of Spain" album a very homogenous feel - i.e. the sound of Spanish classical music. In particular the track, "Solea" proves to be as strong as the work by the legendary Rodrigo and de Falla. Listen for the Spanish military-flair in the song that is the result of some terrific percussion work.

Another thing that really stood out was that even though this collection has very much as Spanish Classical music feel. However there are many segments that could have easily been used as soundtrack info for a feel such as a James Bond movie. While it wouldn't be the hard-rocking sound of Paul McCartney's "Live and Let Die", I could see parts of these tracks in James Bond films. A prime example of this comes from the classical "Concierto de Aranjuez" piece itself. You can also hear the "soundtrack" sound from some of Evans' original work such as "Song of Our Country".

One thing that's worth noting is that while this is a Miles Davis album, much of the credit does need to go to Gil Evans. Davis does a superb job at playing the horns, but as mentioned above, it is Evans who finds a way to give this album the homogenous sound. It is also Evans that finds another avenue for Davis to deliver his sound. "Porgy and Bess" opened the doors for something besides his trademark jazz sound. "Sketches of Spain" helped take Davis to another dimension. The music shows outstanding musicianship. My only minor beef with this collection is that it really isn't going to make you "get up and dance". It almost has a calm and somewhat somber quality to it.

This collection includes an outstanding collection of liner notes that will provide additional insight into the band. This includes the original liner notes that appeared on the back of the album cover that were written by Nat Hernoff who was a co-editor of "The Jazz Review". Phil Schaap provides an additional write-up (on the re-release) that discusses "The Making of Sketches of Spain". The liner notes also include production and musician credits. Overall, this is not going to be the place to hear classic Miles Davis jazz, however it is going to be a place to hear some outstanding Spanish-infused classical music. This is going to provide some high quality music and if you have an appreciation for music, this is going to be something worth investing in.
Porgy and Bess
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • pure composition magic...
  • One of the most startling beautiful and quintessential version of Porgy and Bess
  • Porgy and Bess and Miles/Gil Evans
  • Pull a chair between the speakers and let this one wash over you
  • Edit your own CD
Porgy and Bess
Miles Davis , and Gil Evans
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002AH6
Release Date: 1997-03-25

Tracks:

  1. Buzzard Song
  2. Bess, You Is My Woman Now
  3. Gone
  4. Gone, Gone, Gone
  5. Summertime
  6. Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess
  7. Prayer (Oh Doctor Jesus)
  8. Fishermen, Strawberry And Devil Crab
  9. My Man's Gone Now
  10. It Ain't Necessarily So
  11. Here Come De Honey Man
  12. I Loves You, Porgy
  13. There's A Boat That's Leaving Soon For New York
  14. I Loves You, Porgy (Take 1, Second Version)
  15. Gone (Take 4)

Amazon.com

Take George Gershwin's Porgy & Bess, add Miles Davis and arranger Gil Evans, and what do you get? A classic jazz album that--despite the fact that the material has been rendered almost overly familiar due to countless interpretations--still sounds remarkably fresh four decades after its initial release. Miles' soft yet piercing trumpet style is perfectly suited to Gershwin's melancholy melodies, Evans' musical direction of his 18-piece orchestra is impeccable, and their version of "Summertime" may well be the finest ever waxed. Davis and Evans teamed up for several recordings after this one (including the landmark Sketches of Spain), but Porgy & Bess still stands as one of their most successful collaborations. --Dan Epstein

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars pure composition magic..........2007-06-20

The pinnacle of Gil Evans and Miles Davis working together. This is by far the definitive recording of Porgy and Bess as far as I'm concerned. I've listened to it a thousand times and it still blows me away. I wish I had the words to do this recording justice. Just listen to GONE and how it segues into GONE, GONE, GONE and how that in turn segues into SUMMERTIME. My goodness, the trumpet practically speaks to you, you can feel the pathos, the rage and the desire of the story. SUMMERTIME is the quintessential Miles. moody, full of passion, magical. Enough said. Get it. Listen to it. Enjoy it. over and over and over again.

5 out of 5 stars One of the most startling beautiful and quintessential version of Porgy and Bess.......2007-04-30

While "Porgy and Bess" nas been attempted by many an artist from popular standard artists to jazz giants, for me, this IS the quintessential version. For me, better than Ella and Louis or Ray Charles and Cleo Laine's versions.

It is emotionally direct and startling in it's beauty. Miles was at the height of his powers and he conveys the sentiment of the pieces so directly that I was moved and transfixed.

This, of all the Gil Evans/Miles Davis collaborations is the best. Some might argue in favor of others but this one features arrangement that are essential and never, not once, do they encumber, obscure or step all over the soloist. Gil provides a perfect setting for Miles and Miles makes the most of it, with that unique vibratto-less tone.

Never sappy, nor even conventional. I can only imagine what the reactions were when this recording was released. Mind you, Gil never arranged in the traditional voicings or instrumentations of the traditional big band. No four or five sax/five brass, four trombone, piano, bass and drums for this man. The instrumentation and voicings are unique. Often the horns covney the soft lushness of strings on ballads but without any syrup at all.

This simply one of the best Miles Davis recordings in his career, bar none! He effectively conveys the longing, romance, sadness and joy I presume Gershwin intended.

Upon acquiring a CD player back in the eighties, this was one of the very first recordings I purchased. Never old or dated. It's timeless, it transcends eras.

A must have for me.

5 out of 5 stars Porgy and Bess and Miles/Gil Evans.......2007-01-03

Phenomenal material to begin with. The treatment was exceptional due to an amazing collaboration. I am very pleased to have it in my collection.

5 out of 5 stars Pull a chair between the speakers and let this one wash over you.......2006-10-31

Let me start by saying that I'm a long-time analog music lover. I still spin a lot of vinyl, and have found digital music to be, at times, disappointing.

That being said, this remastering of "Porgy and Bess" is one of the most gorgeous things I've ever heard. The placement of the instruments across the spectrum is almost holographic, and out of this space the subtlety of Gil Evans' work can truly be appreciated. There are long, languid sections of Miles' horn noir, punctuated by bursts from Evans' "brass orchestra." The layers, the barely heard accents, it's just brilliant work, and this amazing remaster truly does it justice.

As to the music, I'll simply paraphrase another reviewer here who said that he knew of no music more beautiful than this. Amen, brother.

5 out of 5 stars Edit your own CD.......2006-03-19

I think I understand why some listeners take exception to the Miles-Evans version of Porgy and Bess and wonder what all the fuss is about and why it's a "classic" if they've never heard the original vinyl release on Columbia. In the digital era, in the attempt to give listeners more content and fill up cd space, record companies sometimes include extra tracks that were never on the original and should have been left off later. For me that track is "I Loves You, Porgy," which comes near the end of the entire album and has a way of spoiling the sonic magic that came before. It's not that it's a terrible track; it's just not that good or necessary when compared to the others, and, again, was never on the original in the first place. Furthermore, the last track was never on the original either, and can be done without as well, imo. Sometimes less is better. After all, a classic album is one where the listener finds it unnecessary to skip tracks, and the later cd release inadvertently violates this principle because of the two reasons I've mentioned. For my own use, I've burned an edited version off my own commercial copy without the last two tracks, and I recommend others do the same if they wish to recapture the spirit of the original and the marvelous effects this music can create, as Miles' tone was never more luscious, dark and brooding...just gorgeous. And I think Gil Evans was right when he said that Miles Davis reinvented the sound of the trumpet and flugelhorn, especially on Sketches of Spain and Porgy and Bess.
Out of the Cool
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Jazz de fino, ecléctico, potente
  • Why not give it SIX stars?
  • A rare gem
  • Gil's Greatest
  • simply astounding
Out of the Cool
Gil Evans Orchestra
Manufacturer: Grp Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000003N8E
Release Date: 1996-03-26

Tracks:

  1. La Nevada
  2. Where Flamingos Fly
  3. Bilbao Song
  4. Stratusphunk
  5. Sunken Treasure
  6. Sister Sadie

Amazon.com

Recorded after Gil Evans provided the orchestral clouds through which Miles Davis blew on such classics as Sketches of Spain, Porgy and Bess, and Miles Ahead, Out of the Cool is a starburst. Evans's title makes clear that this is a path away from the legendary 1949 Birth of the Cool, opening as it does with an obsessive (if calmly so) vamp that pulses for two minutes with maracas rattling before all the orchestra's instruments enter. Built on a repeating four-bar figure, "La Nevada" goes on to peg Evans as a fully realized orchestra player, one who uses the color palette of over a dozen distinct voices as his instrument. As a pianist Evans manages startling spareness, making dramatic miniature figures and then comping through the orchestra's skein with ritual regularity. Looking at the provenance of these tunes, one realizes Evans's true scope of knowledge: he moves from Kurt Weill's "Bilbao Song" to the Lydian (as in George Russell) modal structure of "Stratusphunk" to close the session with a regally charted take on Horace Silver's "Sister Sadie." Note how trumpeter Johnny Coles steps up as a main soloist, and follow the harmonic topography. It's a rare treat. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Jazz de fino, ecléctico, potente.......2007-01-05

Se trata quizás del mejor disco del gran arreglador Gil Evans. En esta grabación plasma una sonoridad más compacta y menos grandilocuente que por ejemplo en sus colaboraciones con Miles Davis. Un disco de lujo, fino, diverso y potente.

5 out of 5 stars Why not give it SIX stars?.......2006-06-06

Like other fellow "reviewers", this disk came to me in the '60s, when I was (ahem) younger. It was my first real, full-on jazz disk, and was foisted on me (a rank musical slob at that point) by a friend who loved jazz and felt very sorry for my plebian tastes (or lack thereof.) Well, long story shortened, he never got his disk back, and I have memorized it entirely, note by note. And O golly, it's always fresh, alluring, surprising.

This too, it's a wonderful argument for the value of CDs. This one, and "Individualism" were my first purchases... and Oh glory, there's even more subtlety to audit on the CDs!

All I want to add is this: Gil Evans is the ultimate crossover artist. From Jimi Hendrix to the blues, to the sonorities and moods of Maurice Ravel's music, he loved tunes and harmony and he LOVED each instrument in the orchestra. No one like him, not at all. Well, maybe Maria Schneider, who was (I'm told) his assistant at the end... She's got a good ear, but Gil was still the most amazing arranger. And, as others have noted, he sure had the players to do his imagination full justice.

I'll shut up now, and you go buy a copy, OK?

5 out of 5 stars A rare gem.......2005-03-04

Sometimes you listen to a piece of music for the first time and it strikes you that it sounds so original yet so logical, so beautiful and natural yet so rare. This is how this music struck me when I first heard it in LP 20+ years ago. Is a recording for the ages. When the trombones come in out of nowhere in "La nevada" you feel taken by them, yet you feel like there is nothing else that could have come in but these bones. "Where Flamingos Fly" is a masterpiece of arranging and shows the artistry of Jimmy Knepper. The session continues with one beautiful surprise after another. Do yourself a favor and get this recording if is the only one you can get.

5 out of 5 stars Gil's Greatest.......2003-03-22

Following on from his three classic albums with Miles Davis, this is Evans' best ever album. Stand-out tracks are the long, swinging 'La Nevada', and the dark, moody 'Where Flamingos Fly' and 'Hidden Treasure'. The CD also has a bonus track, the jolly 'Sister Sadie'. Great arrangements, great musicianship, particularly Ron Carter on bass and Elvin Jones on drums. A real gem of an album.

5 out of 5 stars simply astounding.......2003-03-21

i am late to come to this amazing recording, however, with that said, it is never too late to appreciate this timeless recording. it is breathtaking. the reason for my passing on this title was the fact that i was affraid it would be big band bland. that is the biggest mistake i have ever made in presuming a jazz title. i was struck immediately and forever a fan of this and the into the hot LP. this particular title is my favorite of the 2. the into the hot is no lees of an achievement and should never be dismissed. get them both. you will thank yourself. thanks gil.
The Miles Davis and Gil Evans: Complete Columbia Studio Recordings
Average customer rating: Not rated
    The Miles Davis and Gil Evans: Complete Columbia Studio Recordings
    Miles Davis , and Gil Evans
    Manufacturer: Sony
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B0002199H2
    Release Date: 2004-05-11

    Tracks:

    1. Springville
    2. The Maids Of Cadiz
    3. The Duke
    4. My Ship
    5. Miles Ahead
    6. Blues For Pablo
    7. New Rhumba
    8. The Meaning Of The Blues
    9. Lament
    10. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You)
    11. Springsville (Remake Take 7)
    12. The Maids Of Cadiz (Take 1)
    13. The Duke (Take 11)
    14. My Ship (Take 1)
    15. Miles Ahead (Take 4)
    16. Blues For Pablo (Take 1)
    17. New Rhumba (Take 5)
    18. The Meaning Of The Blues (Rehearsal Take)
    19. Lament (Rehearsal Take)
    20. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (Take 8)
    21. Pause Track

    Tracks:

    1. Buzzard Song
    2. Bess, You Is My Woman Now
    3. Gone
    4. Gone, Gone, Gone
    5. Summertime
    6. Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess
    7. Prayer (Oh Doctor Jesus)
    8. Fishermen, Strawberry And Devil Crab
    9. My Man's Gone Now
    10. It Ain't Necessarily So
    11. Here Come De Honey Man
    12. I Loves You, Porgy
    13. There's A Boat That's Leaving Soon For New York
    14. Gone (Take 3)
    15. Summertime (Take 2)
    16. Prayer (Oh Doctor Jesus) (Take 2)
    17. I Loves You, Porgy (Take 1, Second Version)
    18. There's A Boat That's Leaving Soon For New York (Take 2)
    19. Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess (Take 5)
    20. Gone (Take 4)
    21. Pause Track

    Tracks:

    1. Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio)
    2. Will O' The Wisp
    3. The Pan Piper
    4. Saeta
    5. Solea
    6. Song Of Our Country (Issued Take)
    7. Saeta (Full Version Of Master)
    8. The Pan Piper (Take 1)
    9. Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio) (Part One, Alternate Take)
    10. Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio) (Part Two, Alternate Take)
    11. Song Of Our Country (Take 14)
    12. Pause Track

    Tracks:

    1. Song No. 2
    2. Once Upon A Summertime
    3. Ads Pes Da Cruz
    4. Song No. 1
    5. Wait Till You See Her
    6. Corcovado (Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars)
    7. Blue Xmas
    8. Nothing Like You
    9. Devil May Care
    10. The Time Of The Barracudas
    11. Falling Water (Take 4)
    12. Falling Water (Take 6)
    13. Falling Water (Take 8)
    14. Falling Water (Take 9)
    15. Springsville (Take 5)
    16. The Maids Of Cadiz (Take 11)
    17. The Maids Of Cadiz (Take 11, Insert 1)
    18. Lament (Medley: Take 2)
    19. The Duke (Take 1)
    20. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (53225 Issued Version)

    Tracks:

    1. Springsville (Rehearsal Sequence)
    2. Springsville (Rehearsal With Piano)
    3. The Maids Of Cadiz (Take 9)
    4. The Maids Of Cadiz (Take 10)
    5. The Maids Of Cadiz (Rehearsal Sequence)
    6. Count Off For The Duke (Take 3)
    7. The Duke (Take 8)
    8. The Duke (Piano Take 3)
    9. My Ship (Take 6)
    10. Miles Ahead (Rehearsal Sequence)
    11. Miles Ahead (Take 12)
    12. Miles Ahead (Take 15)
    13. Studio Discussion
    14. My Ship (Take 7)
    15. Miles Ahead (Piano Insert-Mono)
    16. Blues For Pablo (Rehearsal Sequence)
    17. New Rhumba (Take 2)
    18. Lament (Take 1)
    19. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You)
    20. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (Take 5)
    21. Studio Discussion
    22. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You)
    23. Pause Track

    Tracks:

    1. Studio Discussion
    2. Springsville (Take 8 Without Overdubs)
    3. Studio Discussion
    4. Miles Ahead (Take 11 Without Overdubs)
    5. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (Take 3 Without Overdubs)
    6. Springsville (Overdubs Take 1)
    7. Springsville (Overdubbed Solos 4-5)
    8. Springsville (Overdubbed Solos 6-9)
    9. Springsville (Issued Overdubbed Solo)
    10. Miles Ahead (Issued Overdubbed Solo)
    11. Miles Ahead (Overdubbed Solo)
    12. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (Overdubbed Solo 1)
    13. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (Overdubbed Solo 2)
    14. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (Overdubbed Solo)
    15. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You (Overdubbed Solo 9)
    16. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You) (Overdubbed Solo 19 & 19c)
    17. Miles Ahead (Mono Master)
    18. Gone (Rehearsal Sequence)
    19. Gone, Gone, Gone (Rehearsal Sequence)
    20. Studio Discussion
    21. Bess, You Is My Woman Now
    22. It Ain't Necessarily So
    23. Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess
    24. I Loves You, Porgy (Rehearsal Sequence)
    25. There's A Boat That's Leaving Soon For New York (Remake)
    26. My Man's Gone Now (Remake Take)
    27. Song Of Our Country (Take 9)
    28. Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio) (Rehearsal)
    29. Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio) (Alternate Ending)
    30. Pause Track

    Amazon.com

    From their first work together on the Birth of the Cool sessions in 1949, Miles Davis and Gil Evans forged a unique relationship as great soloist and brilliant arranger. The real opportunity to explore their shared vision didn't come until 1957, however, when Davis had forged a relationship with a major record label able to support it. Though a product of the big-band tradition, Evans was never limited by sectional voicings and riffs. He had an interest in unusual instrumentation and a talent for creating subtle mixes of distinct voices, adding French horns, oboe, bassoon, and harp to the conventional big band and thinning its saxophone, trumpet, and trombone sections. His arrangements for Davis are like settings for the finest jewels, whether he's creating rich, brass chords or adding only light percussion to the trumpeter's solitary lament. Together Davis and Evans produced three orchestral masterpieces: Miles Ahead (1957), Porgy and Bess (1958), and Sketches of Spain (1960). They're all here, along with less-inspired, later projects like the Quiet Nights bossa nova album. What most distinguishes the box set is the archival work of Phil Schaap, who has compiled a wealth of alternate takes. They reveal much about the processes that went into these works, including extensive editing and even some overdubbing. As early as 1957, Evans and Davis were already beginning to use the studio itself as an integral part of their music. --Stuart Broomer
    The Complete Pacific Jazz Recordings
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • The Complete Paciffic Jazz Sessions.
    • Gil Evans
    • A Stone cold classic. Thanks Blue Note!
    • Perfect
    • An absolute jazz classic
    The Complete Pacific Jazz Recordings
    Gil Evans
    Manufacturer: Blue Note Records
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B000FILWDG
    Release Date: 2006-06-06

    Tracks:

    1. St. Louis Blues
    2. King Porter Stomp
    3. Willow Tree
    4. Struttin' With Some Barbecue
    5. Lester Leaps In
    6. 'Round Midnight
    7. Manteca
    8. Bird Feathers
    9. Davenport Blues
    10. Straight No Chaser
    11. Ballad Of The Sad Young Men
    12. Joy Spring
    13. Django
    14. Chant Of The Weed
    15. La Nevada (Theme)

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars The Complete Paciffic Jazz Sessions........2007-03-09

    Gil Evans clever arrangements and Cannonball Adderly's brillant solos on the first 8 tracks is Jazz at its' best.
    All in All an outstanding CD.
    Peter Christensen.

    3 out of 5 stars Gil Evans.......2007-01-04

    This CD is a fine selection by Blue Note which is supposed to be limited. It is the combination of 2 LPs "New Bottle Old Wine" & "Great Jazz Standards" with different musicians on the albums, but all great artists conducted by the master. But you must love classical jazz even with Evans stunning arrangements ... Don't expect the wildness of "Svengali"!
    Another interesting CD is the Gil Evans Orchestra "Tribute To Gil" recorded in 1988 in Perugia Umbria Jazz Festival following 2 CDs recorded live by Gil in 1987 as well as "Last Session" Sting & Gil Evans Live at Perugia Jazz Festival - July 11,1987 but if they are still available ...

    5 out of 5 stars A Stone cold classic. Thanks Blue Note!.......2006-11-11

    Great release by Blue Note, putting together these two albums on one. The first album "New Bottle, Old Wine", might be one of the greatest jazz albums of the 1950's, period. Plus this is of interest to all Cannonball Adderley fans. His playing on that album is just insane, on the same league as the great Charlie Parker, but of course, Cannonball sound is unique. You cant go wrong with Gil Evans, but this is top of the line.

    5 out of 5 stars Perfect.......2006-06-22

    Frazier has it exactly right (except for misspelling Art Blakey's name). Just to add a few things: this set marks the beginning of the Steve Lacy - Gil Evans musical kinship (there's a remarkable dialogue between soprano sax and piano on "Django"; it has the first recording of Gil's incredible arrangement of "King Porter Stomp" that got electrified on later recordings; it showcases Elvin Jones with Gil for the first time (but certainly not the last); it has some of the most inpsired Cannonball on record; and it shows that Johnny Coles was no mere imitator of Miles. Also, for the purists: it corrects the deficiency of an earlier release of only half of the Pacific Jazz material and remedies the out-of-round pressings that marred the LP twofer release of this stuff. One tiny quibble: these studio recordings are unusually dry in ambience, but on the other hand, you'll hear the music exactly as it sounded when it was played. Finally, the CDs allow us to hear the whole huge dynamic range of Gil's orchestral thinking, from whispers to shouts. Thanks, Blue Note and Michael Cuscuna, for finally getting this one right.

    5 out of 5 stars An absolute jazz classic.......2006-06-20

    What an amazing record -- I first discovered this music on vinyl years ago after hearing the several classic collaborations between the arranger Gil Evans and trumper Miles Davis. If you have admired the Gil Evans arrangements on the Miles recordings, you owe it to yourself to check this out. These recordings help make the case that Gil Evans was one of great jazz arrangers of all time. Big band arrangements can sometimes degenerate into all-out blastfests; Gil Evans always manages to communicate with a lot more sophistication and nuance, but on these sessions he manages to have fun as well.

    Originally issued as two albums -- "New Bottle, Old Wine" and "Great Jazz Standards" -- this is a CD of Gil Evans re-arranging classic jazz standards like St. Louis Blues, King Porter Stomp, Lester Leaps In with some post-bop standards like 'Round Midnight, Joy Spring and Straight No Chaser.

    The album was recorded in 1958 and 1959 with Julian "Cannonball" Adderley doing much of the alto saxophone work. The big band included classic NY session pros like Johnny Coles and Ernie Royal on trumpet, and Curtis Fuller, Jimmy Cleveland and Curtis Fuller on trombone. Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones, Art Blakely and Elvin Jones make appearances in the rhythm section, and Steve Lacy plays soprano sax on 4 tracks.

    It's so interesting to be listening to these records nearly 50 years after they were made -- this was a "modern" take on jazz tunes that even then were considered classics. Hearing them now, it's like listening to one set of Old Masters interpreting an even more distant set of Old Old Masters. It's a CD that you can enjoy as a peek into modern jazz of the late 50's, or as a set of very interesting big band orchestrations.

    High recommended if you want to learn more about this extremely talented jazz orchestrator.
    In Perugia
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      In Perugia
      Sting , and Gil Evans
      Manufacturer: Jazzdoor
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
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      5. Strange Fruit

      ASIN: B000I5YUX0
      Release Date: 2006-09-18

      Tracks:

      1. Up From The Skies
      2. Strange Fruit
      3. Shadows In The Rain
      4. Little Wing
      5. There Comes A Time
      6. Band Intro By Miles Evans
      7. Consider Me Gone
      8. Synchronicity
      9. Roxanne
      10. Tea In The Sahara / Walkin On The Moon
      11. Instrumental
      12. Message In The Bottle

      Album Description

      The Gil Evans Orchestra featuring Police-man/solo artist Sting, together live at the Umbria Jazz Festival, Perugia, Italy, 11th July 1987. 12 tracks including versions of Police classics like 'Message In A Bottle' and 'Roxanne'. JazzD.

      Album Details

      The Famed Singer/Songwriting Ex-police Man Meets the Jazz Master!
      The Individualism of Gil Evans
      Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
      • Elvin Jones Kicks Ass
      • I could have lived without the "filler"...
      • The Individualism of Gil Evans - Very Listenable
      • Gil the Genius
      • Quintessential Gil Evans
      The Individualism of Gil Evans
      Gil Evans
      Manufacturer: Polygram Int'l
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

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      ASIN: B00000476F
      Release Date: 1989-07-03

      Tracks:

      1. Time Of The Barracudas
      2. The Barbara Song
      3. Las Vegas Tango
      4. Flute Song/Hotel Me
      5. El Toreador
      6. Proclamation
      7. Nothing Like You
      8. Concorde
      9. Spoonful

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Elvin Jones Kicks Ass.......2007-01-06

      O.K. folks here we go, from an ex- Santa Barbara disc jockey to you. The best song on this excellent CD is Las Vegas Tango. What should blow your mind about this song is the multirhythmic backing of Elvin Jones on drum. The band itself is tight and strong. The song is kinda haunting. I've hummed it to myself for the past forty years, and after losing the album a while back, I bought a new CD of it through Amazon.com from England, and I am very happy I own it. I think everyone should own at least one of this, one for themselves and one to give to a friend. This album, and particularly Las Vegas Tango, is one of the best outputs of any band during the 20th century. Buy it.

      5 out of 5 stars I could have lived without the "filler"..........2006-06-06

      Well, sometimes, the old ways are best. Some times, picking what fits on an LP forces choices that really prove to be wise. The extra, "lost" songs that were rescued from the tape vaults or from other oddball LPs don't, in my opinion, add much to a pure, utter classic LP, per its initial incarnation. I would love a disc with the original cuts in the correct order, because such a disk (like "Out of the cool") is an integrated whole -- more than the sum of its astonishing parts. I do like hearing the previously lost bits, but instead of forcing this overstuffed, clunky playlist on us, how about a two-disk set, with the original LP playlist on one, and the lost stuff on the second.

      But I complain too long. The original "Individualism" is a colossal phenomenon. Gil Evans IS individual, and what a loss that he's gone.

      4 out of 5 stars The Individualism of Gil Evans - Very Listenable.......2005-12-22

      I don't think I've found a piece of music by Gil Evans that I don't like. He is perhaps most famous for his work with Miles Davis ( Sketches of Spain is a classic). But he's also done a lot of other work - good work. While listening to WXPN sometime a couple of weeks ago I came across this recording: The Individualism of Gil Evans, here released on Verve. This is also important as it is Evan's only date as a leader in the mid 60's. The session features such standouts as Kenny Burrell on guitar, Wayne Shorter on tenor, Phil Woods on alto, Thad and Elvin Jones on trumpet and drums respectively and Jimmy Cleveland on trombone. The CD offers nine tracks including two previously unreleased to the original Lp. My two favorites on this are Time Of The Barracudas and Las Vegas Tango. I would highly recommend this to fans of Evans as well as any one looking for a very listenable jazz album but don't know a lot about the genre.

      Music Blog

      5 out of 5 stars Gil the Genius.......2003-03-22

      If you like Gil Evans' work with Miles Davis, you'll like this. Some startling compositions -- 'Hotel Me' with its romping rhythm, the stunning 'Las Vegas Tango' -- and some splendid covers, Willie Dixon's 'Spoonful' (with the LP's edit cuts reinstated) and a beautifully funereal go at Kurt Weil's 'Barbara Song'. Listen especially to Elvin Jones' excellent drumming. A classic.

      4 out of 5 stars Quintessential Gil Evans.......2002-12-26

      This album represents Gil Evans at the height of his creative expression. Gil Evans is an uncategorizable artist, perhaps because his style is neither exactly bop or cool jazz, but uniquely his own. This album while not a starter (that would be Out of the Cool)is still a serious contender. Lush and expressionistic, it has extra tracks culled from out of print albums or unreleased matter. From the collaborator of Sketches of Spain, this is as the title says, very uniquely one of his solo masterpieces.
      Talking Jazz; an Oral History
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Talking Jazz; an Oral History
        Ben Sidran
        Manufacturer: Unlimited Media Ltd. / Nardis
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

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        ASIN: B000NE59VI

        Product Description

        Talking Jazz contains sixty intimate conversations with the men and women who made the music happen, all neatly packaged in one elegant box with rare photos and extensive in-depth essays. Twenty four hours of audio on 24 CDs. Hear Miles Davis reminisce about Kind of Blue; Sonny Rollins reveal what really happened on the bridge; Betty Carter dispense advice to the young; Dizzy Gillespie demonstrate how to pack for the road; all this and more!An unprecedented resource for students and teachers alike, from noted author, musician, journalist Ben Sidran -- available here for the first time at a special introductory price. Talking Jazz is rife with all of the stuff that makes for humanity, selectively touching, in particular, those who happen to be jazz musicians...Mr. Sidran has gone far below the surface of emotions to the very core of our feelings. Benny Golson, composer, musician
        The Best of Miles Davis & Gil Evans
        Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
        • Miles and Sinatra: The Tragically Beautiful Legacy of Happy Days
        • A nice intro to new MILES fans
        • If you were to exclude Kind of Blue......
        • Simply Sublime...!
        • What A Combination
        The Best of Miles Davis & Gil Evans
        Miles Davis & Gil Evans
        Manufacturer: Sony
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

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        ASIN: B000002BE1
        Release Date: 1997-03-25

        Tracks:

        1. My Ship
        2. Miles Ahead
        3. Blues For Pablo
        4. Gone
        5. My Man's Gone Now
        6. It Ain't Necessarily So
        7. Summertime
        8. I Loves You, Porgy
        9. Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio)
        10. Wait Till You See Her
        11. Corcovado
        12. The Time Of The Barracudas (Excerpt)

        Customer Reviews:

        5 out of 5 stars Miles and Sinatra: The Tragically Beautiful Legacy of Happy Days.......2006-06-12

        Of course there are some disappointments--e.g. the exclusion of "New Rhumba" from "Milestones," of "Bess, You Is My Woman Now" from "Porgy and Bess" and of the penetrating "Saeta" from "Sketches"--but this is a downright satisfying collection, one that I go to far more frequently than to the complete LP's, all three of which I own. The inclusion of the lengthy but poignant Adagio from "Concierto de Aranjuez," perhaps the singlemost moving performance on all three albums, is more than I could have hoped for.

        The audio has been freshened up a bit, most notably the added brilliance in the upper brass, so if you're a regular frequenter of this collection, without which any assessment of Miles Davis would be glaringly incomplete, go for all 3 CD's.

        Miles and Evans' accomplishment here rivals that of Sinatra and Nelson Riddle. These are not simply solo stars being backed by an orchestra. Both performers are featured as solo artists in complete programs that are of such a whole as to constitute an orchestral tone poem, or unified and continuous piece. Moreover, if we look more carefully at both the Miles/Evans programs and those of Sinatra/Riddle ("In the Wee Small Hours," "Close to You," "Only the Lonely"), we sense a degree of elegiac sadness, of profound loss, of tragic perspective that runs completely counter to widely held views of the 1950's as the so-called "happy days." This was a post-War period of acutely felt changes, leading to the projects of artists to recover and renew what had been most vital about the American experience and resulting in meditative, searching, profound works of popular art such as have not since been seen or heard.

        Whether Miles and Gil (or Sinatra and Riddle, for that matter) hold up today and are still capable of capturing new generations remains to be seen. Perhaps the question becomes: would a listener who was totally unfamiliar with the "persona" of Miles Davis or Frank Sinatra respond simply to the incredible beauty of performances such as these? I would like to think so, though I suspect it will be a limited response--and even then only by individuals who listen patiently and actively and who, above all, see music as a revelation of what is most personal, vital and enduring in the human heart.

        5 out of 5 stars A nice intro to new MILES fans.......2002-06-04

        As I say above, this collection is a nice intro for newer fans to Miles's work - specifically with the beautifully mild arrangements of Gil Evans.
        Miles is a chameleon with regard to styles and this collection focuses on ensamble (spelling?) playing with choice cuts from POGRY & BESS, MILES AHEAD and SKETCHES OF SPAIN (my least fav out of Miles's incredible cannon of music - but then again, even a subpar Miles puts many others to shame).The one thing that is nice about this collection is it includes an excerpt from the longer "Time of the Barracudas" suite.
        If you're new to Miles it's a wonderful intro focusing on his "cooler" side.
        Enjoy cats!

        5 out of 5 stars If you were to exclude Kind of Blue.............2002-04-07

        This would be my favorite CD of Miles' work if Kind of Blue did not exist. The funky rich brasses behind Miles that Gil Evans puts down are impeccable. What a rich background for My Ship and Summertime. Could not get these out of my head after hearing them. Miles is a complex character and who would put Evans and Miles together, but it is magic.

        5 out of 5 stars Simply Sublime...!.......2000-12-04

        I'll start by saying that I have given this disc as a gift to a number of friends. It is just some of the most beautiful music ever. Miles' horn over Evans' orchestra and arrangements produces something difficult to describe in words. It can be appreciated on so many levels--by the most knowledgable jazz fan as well as folks who don't know anything about the music. It is both accessible and complex. It can be carefully listened to in order to plumb the depths of the arrangements and mastery of mood and structure. Or it can be used as background music to a romantic dinner or friendly conversation. Once you listen to this music, you will be thankful for your ears....

        5 out of 5 stars What A Combination.......2000-03-22

        Miles sounds Incredible here.Gil Evans Orchestra is right on time thru this must have.The Music Between these two is timeless.Miles Davis Never had Limits with his Music.that's What Made Him Original&A Genius.
        Ride The Night Beast
        Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
        • Contemporary Big Band Magic !
        Ride The Night Beast
        Ladd McIntosh Big Band
        Manufacturer: L.E.M. Productions, Inc.
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

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        ASIN: B00067WF9Q
        Release Date: 2004-09-16

        Tracks:

        1. The Rugged Coast
        2. Ride The Night Beast
        3. I. Taco Tee Shirt
        4. II. Steaks & Beans at Mormon Lake Lodge
        5. III. Goodbye, Grant
        6. IV. Legacy
        7. Guru
        8. I. Liquor Nips
        9. II. I Wanna Watch You
        10. III. Great Times in H.Z.

        Album Description

        From raunchy, driving rock to lush Gil Evans-like colors; from infectious swing to haunting ballads; and from impish humor to fluid Latin rhythms, this CD will give you the ultimate in jazz big band pleasure.

        Ladd McIntosh has written some great stuff that appeals to all who enjoy good music well performed. His creativity and musicianship--which excel in these selections--will inspire you to listen again and again.

        The Ladd McIntosh Big Band is comprised of outstanding Los Angeles pros who play these original compositions with enthusiasm, passion and excitement. The wonderful ensemble playing, the great soloists and the terrific rhythmic drive are palpable.

        Customer Reviews:

        5 out of 5 stars Contemporary Big Band Magic !.......2004-11-17

        "Ride the Night Beast" is an excellent CD by Ladd McIntosh and his L.A. Big Band. This CD features an exciting program of Ladd's original compositions. This is a modern, contemporary big band with a very 'hip' sound. Ladd has developed his own original and recognizable style as a jazz big band composer/arranger. Ladd's compositions are all very intriguing and exciting. His music incorporates exotic, unpredictable melodies that are full of pleasant surprises. The grooves are grounded in swinging intensity, earthy funk, and exhilarating Latin styles. Ladd's orchestrations highlight a full range of instrumental colors: Muted brass, flutes, soprano sax, clarinets, and many different percussion instruments are heard throughout. Brass section punctuations hit hard and funky.

        The melodies of "The Rugged Coast" unfold their beauty gradually. Before long, a gentle Latin groove appears, then we hear a wonderful alto sax solo by Fred Selden. One can envision the Northern California coastline which inspired this piece.

        The title track is a Big Band funk fest, with a sly nod to the great Tower of Power band.

        This CD was dedicated to the late Grant Wolf - a very influential music educator, and a close friend of Ladd. (Ladd's drummer Dick Weller was a student of G. Wolf) "The Last Suite Mesa" very effectively captures several aspects of Grant's musical personality. "Goodbye Grant" is a deeply felt, affecting tribute. Jon Crosse plays the very lovely soprano sax on this movement. The other three movements of this Suite are fun, buoyant, and joyful celebrations of Grant's life.

        "Guru' is another memorable McIntosh composition. The piece opens as mysteriously as the title would imply. Eventually the tempo surges forward and saxophonists Kurt McGettrick and Glenn Garrett both wail on their solos. Later, a rhythmic motif is used for collective improvisation as it builds throughout the entire band.

        "Suite Mesa Two" opens with another of Ladd's exotic melodies played over a loping samba groove. The flute/soprano sax lead is complimented by the brass section, then an terrific syncopated line played by the bari sax and the trombones sets up smokin' solos by Glen Garrett on alto sax, and Geoff Stradling on electric piano. The 2nd movement features the seductive alto sax of Fred Selden. Beautiful and alluring! The 3rd movement is up-tempo and exciting. Ladd's great sense of musical humor on display here.

        Newcomers and seasoned jazz fans alike will find much to enjoy within this CD. Buy it and enjoy these great sounds!

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