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Geoffrey Smith picks personal favourites from arranger-composer Gil Evans's work, including his classic collaborations with Miles Davis and works he created under his own name.

To Miles Davis, Gil Evans was "hipper than hip", a profoundly original arranger-composer whose sumptuous impressionism influenced the whole of post-war jazz. In a programme first heard in 2013, Geoffrey Smith picks some personal favourites from the rich array of Evans's work, including his classic collaborations with Davis and the evocative masterpieces he created under his own name.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 2 Aug 2015 00:00
大象传媒 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Louis Armstrong

    No One Else But You

    Composer: Redman Performers: Louis Armstrong, t; Fred Robinson, tb; Don Redman, cl, as, a; Earl Hines, p; Dave Wilborn, bj, g; Zutty Singleton, d. 5 December 1928

    • Louis Armstrong: Hot Fives and Sevens Volume 3.
    • JSP Records.
    • JSPCD 314; Tr. 14 (1.50, extract.

  • Duke Ellington

    Chelsea Bridge

    Composer: Strayhorn Performers: Duke Ellington, p; Wallace Jones, Ray Nance, t; Rex Stewart, c; Tricky Sam Nanton, Lawrence Brown, tb; Juan Tizol, valve tb; Barney Bigard, cl; Johnny Hodges, as, ss, cl; Harry Carney, bs, cl, as; Otto Hardwick, as, bs; Ben Webster, ts; Billy Strayhorn, p; Fred Guy, g; Junior Raglin, b; Sonny Greer, d; Herb Jeffries, v. Webster, Tizol 2 December 1941

    • Duke Ellington: The Blanton-Webster Band.
    • RCA.
    • 74321 13181 2. D3; Tr.6 (0.38, e.

  • Claude Thornhill

    Sorta Kinda

    Composer: Young Performers: Red Rodney, Emil Terry, Ed Zandy, t; Tak Takvorian, Allan Langstaff, tb; Walter Weschler, Sandy Sieglestein, frh; Bill Barber, tu; possibly James Genus, Victor Harris, Ed Stang, pic, fl; Danny Polo, cl, as; Lee Konitz, as; Bill Glover, fl, as; Mickey Folus, bs, cl, ts; Mario Rollo, clt, ts; Bill Bushey, cl, bcl, bs; Claude Thornhill, p; Barry Galbraith, g; Joe Schulman, b; Billy Exner, d. Fran Warren, Gene Williams, v; Gil Evans, arr. 4 September 1947

    • Claude Thornhill and His Orchestra: 1946 鈥� 47 Performances Vol.2.
    • Hep Records.
    • HEP CD 74 Tr. 8 (2.44).

  • Claude Thornhill

    Yardbird Suite

    Composer: Parker Performers: Louis Mucci, Red Rodney, Ed Zandy, t; Tak Takvorian, Allan Langstaff, tb; Walter Weschler, Sandy Sieglestein, frh; Bill Barber, tu; possibly James Genus, Victor Harris, Ed Stang, pic, fl; Danny Polo, cl, as; Lee Konitz, as; Bill Glover, as; Mickey Folus, bs, cl, ts; Mario Rollo, clt, ts; Bill Bushey, cl, bcl, bs; Claude Thornhill, p; Barry Galbraith, g; Joe Schulman, b; Billy Exner, d. Fran Warren, Gene Williams, v; 17 December 1947

    • Claude Thornhill and His Orchestra: 1946 鈥� 47 Performances Vol.2.
    • Hep Records.
    • HEP CD 74. Tr. 21 (3.19).

  • Miles Davis

    Moon Dreams

    Composer: MacGregor, Mercer Performers: Miles Davis, t; J.J. Johnson, tb; Gunther Schuller, frh; Bill Barber, tu; Lee Konitz, as; Gerry Mulligan, bs; Al McKibbon, b; Max Roach, d. Bill Evans, arr. 9 March 1950

    • Birth of Cool.
    • Capitol Records.
    • 7243 5 30117 2 7 Tr.3 (3.18).

  • Miles Davis

    My Ship

    Composer: Gershwin, Weill Performers: Miles Davis, t, flugelhorn; Gil Evans, arr, cond; Lee Konitz, as; Taff Jordan, Ernie Royal, Bernie Glow, John Carisi, Louis Mucci, t; Jimmy Cleveland, Frank Rehak, Joe Barrett, tb; Tom Mitchell, btb; Willie Ruff, Toby Miranda, Jimmy Buffington, frh; Bill Barber, tu; Romeo Penque, Sid Cooper, Eddie Caine, fl, cl; Danny Bank, bcl; Paul chambers, b; Art Taylor, d. Recorded between 6th May 鈥� 22nd August 1957

    • Miles Davis: Four Classic Albums.
    • Avid.
    • AMSC1081. D1, Tr. 4 (4.27).

  • Miles Davis

    Prayer (Oh Doctor Jesus)

    Music Arranger: Gil Evans.

    Composer: Gershwin, Heyward Performers: Miles Davis, t, flugelhorn; Gil Evans, arr, cond; Julian Adderley, as; Ernie Royal, Bernie Glow, Johnny Coles, Louis Mucci, t; Jimmy Cleveland, Frank Rehak, Joe Bennett, tb; Dick Hixon, btb; Willie Ruff, Gunther Schiller, Julius Watkins, frh; Bill Barber, tu; Jerome Richardson, fl; Romeo Penque, Phil Bodner, fl, afl, cl; Danny Bank, afl, bcl; Paul Chambers, b Jimmy Cobb, d. July/August 1958

    • Four Classic Albums.
    • Avid.
    • AMSC 1081. D2, Tr. 7 (4.38).

  • Gil Evans

    Struttin' with Some Barbecue

    Composer: Armstrong Performers: Johnny Coles, Louis Mucci, Ernie Royal t; Joe Bennett, Frank Rehak, Tom Mitchell, tb; Julius Watkins, frh; Bill Barber, tu; Phil Boaner, reeds; Cannonball Adderley, as; Gil Evans, p; Chuck Wayne, g; Paul Chambers, b; Art Blakey, d. 21 May 1958

    • Gil Evans: Four Classic Albums.
    • Avid.
    • AMSC 1077; D1, Tr.4 (4.33).

  • Gil Evans

    Sunken Treasure

    Composer: Evans Performers: John Coles, Phil Sunkel, t; Jimmy Knepper, Keg Johnson, tb; Tony Studd, btb; Eddie Caine, as, fl, picc; Budd Johnson, ts, ss; Bob Tricarico, bassoon, fl, picc; Gil Evans, p; Ray Crawford, g; Ron Carter, b; Bill Barber, tu; Charlie Persip, Elvin Jones, perc. November/December 1980

    • Gil Evans: Four Classic Albums.
    • Avid.
    • AMSC 1077. D2, Tr.5 (4.16).

  • Gil Evans

    Murder by Numbers

    Composer: Sumner Performers: Gil Evans, p, dir; Lew Soloff, Palle Mikkelborg, Miles Evans, t; Dave Bargeron, tb; Dave Taylor, b; John Clark, frh; Steve Lacy, ss; Chris Hunter, as; Don Weller, ts; George Adams, ts, fl; John Surman, bs, bcl; Hiram Bullock, g; Delmar Brown : keyboards; Mark Egan, b; Danny Gottlieb, d; Anita Evans, Airto Moreira, perc. Recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon 1987

    • 大象传媒 Jazz Legends: Gil Evans.
    • 大象传媒 Legends.
    • 大象传媒J70072 Tr.5 (9.50).

  • Gil Evans

    The Barbara Song

    Composer: Weill, Brecht Performers: Frank Rehak, tb; Ray Alonge, Julius Watkins, frh; Bill Barber, tu; Wayne Shorter, Al Block, Andy Fitzgerald, George Marge, Bob Tricarico, reeds and woodwinds; Bob Maxwell, harp; Gary Peacock, b; Elvin Jones, d. 9 July 1964

    • The Individualism of Gil Evans.
    • Verve.
    • 8338042 (1); Tr. 2 (9.57).

Broadcasts

  • Sun 12 May 2013 00:00
    大象传媒 Radio 3
  • Sun 2 Aug 2015 00:00
    大象传媒 Radio 3

Podcast

  • Geoffrey Smith's Jazz

    Geoffrey Smith's Jazz - a weekly sequence exploring what makes great jazz great music