Farewell Gil Evans CD

Recorded live at Sweet Basil's, New York, New York on December 1 & 2, 1986. Includes liner notes by Stephanie L. Stein & Robert P. Crease.

The Gil Evans Monday Night orchestra ripped through the four cuts on this '86 session, often at a torrid pace. Even when they slowed things down, the solos were often done at fever-pitch levels, especially those from alto saxophonist Chris Hunter. Hamiett Bluiett's low-down baritone helped compensate for the absence of Howard Johnson, while John Clark provided an alternative voice on French horn. The songs were all lengthy selections with none less than 12 minutes. Only one song was written by Evans, the exhaustive opus "Waltz." Otherwise, he is conducting, pacing, and steering the orchestra through the winding movement of Hendrix's "Little Wing" or John Clark's "Your Number." ~ Ron Wynn

Gil Evans Orchestra: Gil Evans (piano); Chris Hunter (soprano & alto saxophones, flute); Bill Evans (soprano & tenor saxophones, flute); Hamiet Bluiett (baritone saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet); Lew Soloff, Shunzo O'no, Miles Evans (trumpet); John Clark (French horn, hornette); Dave Bargeron, Dave Tucker (trombone); Peter Levin, Gil Goldstein (synthesizer); Hiram Bullock (guitar); Mark Egan (bass); Danny Gottlieb (drums).

Producers: Shigeyuki Kawashima, Horst Liepolt.

Personnel: Gil Evans (piano); Hiram Bullock (guitar); Chris Hunter (flute, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Bill Evans (flute, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Hamiet Bluiett (clarinet, bass clarinet, baritone saxophone); Miles Evans, Lew Soloff, Shunzo Ohno (trumpet); Johnny Coles (flugelhorn); John Clark (French horn, horns); Dave Bargeron, Dave Tucker (trombone); Pete Levin, Gil Goldstein (synthesizer); Danny Gottlieb (drums).

Liner Note Authors: Robert P. Crease; Stephanie L. Stein.

Recording information: Sweet Basil, New York, NY (12/01/1983/12/02/1986).

Additional personnel: Johnny Coles (flugelhorn).