Great Jazz Standards

Occupation

• Piano Arrangement: Gil Evans
• Trumpet: Johnny Coles, Louis Mucci, Allen Smith ( 1,2,5 ), Danny Stiles ( 3,4,6,7 )
• French horn Bob Northern ( 1.2,5 ), Earl Chapin
• Tuba: Bill Barber
• Woodwinds: Al Block ( 1,2,5 ), Eddie Caine ( 3,4,6,7 )
• Soprano saxophone: Steve Lacy
• Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet: Budd Johnson ( 3,4,6,7 )
• Guitar: Chuck Wayne ( 1,2,5 ), Ray Crawford ( 3,4,6,7 )
• Bass: Dick Carter (1-4), Tommy Potter ( 3,4,6,7 )
• Drums: Dennis Charles ( 1,2,5 ), Elvin Jones ( 3,4,6,7 )

Great Jazz Standards is a jazz album by Gil Evans, the City was recorded at the beginning of the year 1959, and on February 5, 1959 in New York and released on Pacific Jazz.

The album

After New Bottle, Old Wine - The Great Jazz Composers Great Jazz Standards was another album by the band leader, arranger, composer and pianist Gil Evans, which contained his arrangements of popular jazz standards. The sessions took place in New York jazz club Birdland after a two-week engagement of Evans Orchestra. Evans had written arrangements of known compositions, derived from Bix Beiderbecke, Thelonious Monk, Don Redman, John Lewis and Clifford Brown. For the production Evans won some new musicians like Elvin Jones and Budd Johnson; other musicians such as Steve Lacy, Johnny Coles, Bill Barber, Jimmy Cleveland, Louis Mucci or Al block had been involved with previous Evans productions.

Stephanie Stein Crease points out that " this album, as well as New Bottle, Old Wine, characterized by a strong rhythmic drive is that is not often associated with Evans work to be contributed here in the most titles Elvin Jones. "

The first title Davenport Blues turns out the trumpeter Johnny Coles; the deep voicings of the brass call Evans ' work with Miles Davis in Porgy and Bess in memory. Straight No Chaser Evans opens with an introduction that is with its syncopation and repetition to the composer of the piece, Thelonious Monk. Soloists are Coles, Lacy and Curtis Fuller. The Ballad Ballad of the Sad Young Men begins the pianist with a blues motif; Soloist in the spiritual -influenced title is trombonist Jimmy Cleveland. After the short Bop - oriented Joy Spring of John Lewis classic Django follows; Gil Evans plays him on the piano as a reminiscence of the game by Lewis and Milt Jackson Modern Jazz Quartet in dialogue with Steve Lacy. Another duet with Johnny Coles and Lacy joins the chant -like repetition of the beginning. Chant of the Weed opened with Budd Johnson's clarinet; the rest of the title will alternate between the characteristics of the Don Redman original and Budd Johnson's clarinet playing. The last title theme - the original version of La Nevada Evans 1960 grossed again Out of the Cool - begins with a riff played by Evans - figure, which is accompanied by Elvin Jones. On the issue of the solo Budd Johnson based on the tenor saxophone. Another blues - influenced solo, the guitarist Ray Crawford; then follows Elvin Jones ' drums with polyrhythmic figures. The theme returns with the final ensemble performance.

Evans had a strong improvisational scale La Nevada worked with his band live at Birdland. This was one of the titles that were to remain long in the band's repertoire and serve as a vehicle for improvisation of the soloist and ensemble playing. The arrangement of this modal theme involved some orchestral passages and riffs that Gil Evans ' piano playing introduced, " to lead the soloist for the forging of the musical drama. This type of arrangement - the sensitized participation of all musicians, not just the current soloists - was in Gil [ Evans '] work increasingly common " The play was later the subject of recognition of his big band, . much more extensive it was taken on the following album Out of the Cool.

Reception

In Allmusic Scott Yanow awarded the album 4 stars and stated: " [ ... ] this Gil Evans set Has colorful arrangements of jazz standards plus five Ballad of the Sad Young Men and Evans ' Theme. [ ... ] 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, trombonist Curtis Fuller and Jimmy Cleveland, and Ray Crawford guitarist. Highly recommended. "

Ian Carr also raises in jazz - Rough Guide to the album as one of the most important in the discography of the band leader out; " Evans ' worship of the entire jazz tradition radiates from the brilliant album. "

Title list

• Gil Evans - Great Jazz Standards ( World Pacific WP 1270)

• The album was recorded in New York City on 5 February 1959 ( Title 3, 4, 6 & 7) and early 1959 ( tracks 1, 2 & 5) was added.