Gil Evans Sweet Basil

By the 1980's, Gil Evans orchestra's repertoire was a distinctive blend of Hendrix tunes, original pieces from band members and the occasional nod to Gil's earlier recordings. The set at Hamburg includes four songs from the Hendrix book, although just one of these ("Up From The Skies") was part of the original studio album. Regular appearances in Europe meant that the band had now acquired a younger following, such as many in the audience at Fabrik, one well accustomed to its rock-referent concerts. A year and a half after the concert at Fabrik, Gil Evans passed away in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Quite rightly he'll always be remembered for recording those brilliant, luminous albums with Miles Davis and under his own name, but he had, in fact, led at least three contrasting musical lives. His final years saw him directing his band at a regular Monday night gig at Sweet Basil, New York, so it's fitting that we now have this recording from Hamburg, one that serves as a memorial to his free-spirited later days. With an All Star Musicians Cast.

Gil Evans - Bud and Bird (1986) {Evidence ECD22003-2 rel 1992}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 398 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 159 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 18 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1986, 1992 Evidence | ECD 22003-2
Jazz / Modern Big Band / Post Bop / Progressive Jazz

Gil Evans celebrated his 75th birthday shortly before this session was issued in Japan. He was not looking back, judging from the progressive, animated quality of these numbers. They included some extensive, rollicking numbers, songs with multiple movements, and energized solos from John Clark on French horn, trumpeter Lew Soloff, bass trombonist Dave Tucker, and bassist Mark Egan. Special guest Johnny Coles chimed in on "Half Man, Half Cookie." Some critics rapped Evans' '80s orchestras for their almost chaotic sound and loose feel. But Evans wanted a sprawling sensibility, and although his bands often seemed disorganized, they always maintained discipline in the midst of what others thought sounded like musical anarchy.

One of the most significant arrangers in jazz history, Gil Evans' three album-length collaborations with Miles Davis (Miles Ahead, Porgy and Bess, and Sketches of Spain) are all considered classics.