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Gil Evans

Alyn Shipton is joined by critic and author John Walters to pick the best recordings by arranger and composer Gil Evans, well known for his collaborations with Miles Davis.

Known as the Svengali of jazz (an anagram of his name) Gil Evans was one of the most original arrangers and composers in history. To pick the highlights of Evans's recordings from Miles Davis's Birth of the Cool to his own tributes to Jimi Hendrix, Alyn is joined by critic and author John L. Walters.

Gil Evans's collaborations with Miles Davis on Miles Ahead, Porgy and Bess and Sketches of Spain are well known. But in this programme, John L. Walters who knew and briefly worked with Evans, helps Alyn Shipton pick the gems of the arranger's recorded catalogue, which goes far beyond his works with Miles.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 17 Oct 2010 00:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Gil Evans

    Eleven

    Composer: Davis / Evans Performers: Gil Evans, p; Ted Dunbar, g; Trevor Koehler, David Sanborn, Billy Harper, reeds; Howard Johnson, bs, fh, tub; Marvin "Hannibal" Peterson, Richard Williams, Tex Allen, tp; Sharon Freeman, Peter Levin, fr h; Joseph Daley, tb, tub; David Horowitz, synth; Herb Bushler, b; Bruce Ditmas, d; Susan Evans, perc. Trinity Church, New York, 1973.

    • Svengali.
    • ACT.
    • 9207-2.

  • Charlie Parker's Reboppers

    Boplicity

    Composer: Henry Performers: Miles Davis, tp; J.J. Johnson, tb; Sandy Siegelstein, fr h; John Barber, tub; Lee Konitz, as; Gerry Mulligan, bs; John Lewis, p; Nelson Boyd, b; Kenny Clarke, d; Gil Evans, arr. New York City, 22 Apr 1949.

    • Birth of the Cool.
    • Blue Note.
    • 30117.

  • Charlie Parker's Reboppers

    Maids Of Cadiz

    Composer: Delibes Performers: Miles Davis, James T. Jordan, Ernest Royal, Bernie Glow, John Carisi, Louis R. Mucci, tp; Willie Ruff, Tony Miranda, fr h; Jimmy Cleveland, Frank Rehak, Joe Bennett, Tom Mitchell, tb; Bill Barber, tub; Lee Konitz, as; Danny Bank, b cl; Romeo Penque, Sid Cooper, fl & cl; Wynton Kelly, p; Paul Chambers, b; Art Taylor, Sr., d; Gil Evans, cond. New York City, 6 May 1957.

    • Miles Ahead.
    • CBS.
    • 4606062.

  • Gil Evans

    King Porter Stomp

    Composer: Jelly Roll Morton Performers: Gil Evans, p, arr, cond; Johnny Coles, Louis Mucci, Ernie Royal, tp; Joe Bennet, Frank Rehak, Tom Mitxchell, tb; Julius Watkins, fr h; Harvey Philips, tub; Cannonball Adderley, as; Jerry Sanfino, reeds, Chuck Wayne, g; Paul Chamber, b; Art Blakey, d. New York City, 9 Apr 1958.

    • New Bottle, Old Wine.
    • Manhattan.
    • CDP 7468552.

  • Charlie Parker's Reboppers

    Gone, Gone, Gone

    Composer: Heyward / G. Gershwin / I. Gershwin Performers: Gil Evans, arr, cond; Miles Davis, tp, fl h; Louis Mucci, Ernie Royal, John Coles, Bernie Glow, tp; Jimmy Cleveland, Joseph Bennett, Richard Hixon, Frank Rehak, tb; Cannonball Adderley, Daniel Banks, saxes; Willie Ruff, Julius Watkins, Gunther Schuller, fr h; Philip Bodner, Romeo Penque, fl; John Barber, tub; Paul Chambers, b; Phillip Joe Jones, d. New York City, 22 July, 1958.

    • Porgy And Bess.
    • CBS.
    • 4509852.

  • Charlie Parker's Reboppers

    Solea

    Composer: G. Evans Performers: Gil Evans, arr, cond; Miles Davis, tp, fl h; Janet Putnam, hp; Harold Feldman, fl, cl, ob, fl h; Al Block, fl, ob, fl h, tub; Eddie Caine, fl, fl h; Albert Block, fl; Danny Bank, cl, b cl; Romeo Penque, ob; Jack Knitzer, bassoon; Louis Mucci, Ernie Royal, Johnny Coles, Taft Jordan, Bernie Glow, tp; James Buffington, fr h; Tony Miranda, Joe Singer, John Barrows, Earl Chapin, fr h; Dick Hixon, Frank Rehak, tb; Jimmy McAllister, Bill Barber, tub; Jimmy Cobb, d; Elvin Jones, Jose Mangual, perc. Nov 1959 / Mar 1960.

    • Sketches of Spain.
    • CBS.
    • 4606042.

  • The Gil Evans Orchestra

    Stratusphunk

    Composer: Russell Performers: Gil Evans, p, arr, cond; Jonny Coles, tp; Phil Sunkel, tp; Keg Johnson, Jimmy Knepper, tb; Tony Studd, b tb; Bill Barber, tub; Eddie Caine, Budd Johnson, Bob Tricarico, reeds; Ray Crawford, g; Ron Carter, b; Charlie Persip, Elvin Jones, d, perc. Van Gelder Studios, New Jersey, 18 / 30 Nov 1960.

    • Out Of The Cool.
    • Impulse!.
    • IMP 11862.

  • Gil Evans

    Las Vegas Tango

    Composer: Evans Performers: Gil Evans, p, arr; Johnny Coles, Bernie Glow, tp; Jimmy Cleveland, Tony Studd, tb; Ray Along, fr h; Bill Barber, tub; Garvin Bushell, Eric Dolphy, Bob Tricarico, Steve Lacy, g; Kenny Burrell, b; Ron Carter, Paul Chambers, b; Elvin Jones, d. Webster Hall, New York City, 6 Apr 1964.

    • The Individualism Of Gil Evans.
    • Verve.
    • 8338042.

  • Kenny Burrell

    Greensleeves

    Composer: Trad. Performers: Kenny Burrell, g; Gil Evans, arr, cond; Johnny Coles, Louis Mucci, tp; Jimmy Cleveland, Jimmy Knepper, tb; Andy Fitzgerald, Ray Beckstein, George Marge, Richie Kamuca, reeds & woodwinds; Lee Konitz, as; Steve Lacy, ss; Bob Tricarico, ts, bassoon, fl; Ray Alonge, Julius Watkins, fr h; Bill Barber, tub; Ron Carter, b; Elvin Jones, Charlie Persipl, d. Van Gelder Studios, New Jersey, 4 / 15 Dec 1964 - 5 / 12 Apr 1965.

    • Guitar Forms.
    • Verve.
    • 8255762.

  • Gil Evans

    Blues In Orbit

    Composer: Russell Performers: Gil Evans, p; Ted Dunbar, g; Trevor Koehler, David Sanborn, Billy Harper, reeds; Howard Johnson, bs, fh, tub; Marvin "Hannibal" Peterson, Richard Williams, Tex Allen, tp; Sharon Freeman, Peter Levin, fr h; Joseph Daley, tb, tub; David Horowitz, synth; Herb Bushler, b; Bruce Ditmas, d; Susan Evans, perc. Trinity Church, New York, 1973.

    • Svengali.
    • ACT.
    • 9207-2.

  • Gil Evans & The Monday Night Orchestra

    Up From the Skies

    Composer: Hendrix Performers: Gil Evans, p, arr; Lew Soloff, Hannibal Marvin Peterson, Shunzo Ohno, Miles Evans, tp; George Adams, ts; Chris Hunter, as; Howard Jonson, tub, bs, b cl; Tom Malone, tb; Hiram Bullock, g; Pete Levin, synth; Mark Egan, b; Adam Nussbaum, d; Mino Cinelu, perc. Sweet Basil, New York, 20 / 27 Aug, 1984.

    • Gil Evans Live At Sweet Basil, Part 2.
    • Electric Bird.
    • K32Y6018.

Broadcasts

  • Sat 10 Apr 2010 16:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
  • Sun 17 Oct 2010 00:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

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  • Jazz Library

    Advice and guidance to those interested in building a library of jazz recordings