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The name Gil Evans recalls, among other things, those classic collaborations with Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool, Miles Ahead, Sketches of Spain, Porgy and Bess and Quiet Nights, not to mention the fine work he did leading his own projects. In his time, pianist Gil Evans was considered THE big band arranger and composer. Fortunately his sons, trumpeter Miles and producer/engineer Noah, are keeping dad’s tradition alive with the first recording of the Gil Evans Orchestra in 40 years, Hidden Treasures Monday Nights Volume One evoking the classic Monday night performances at NYC’s Sweet Basil and featuring many of the finest musicians in New York City. There are ten core participants joined by fifteen others on various tracks, performing both their original compositions and two from Gil Evans.
Gil Evans spanned the various styles of jazz from cool to modal to free jazz to fusion. All are represented in this current day configuration. The inspiration comes in part from the run of Monday nights in Greenwich Village’s Sweet Basil from 1983 until 1994 where these sessions featured top-shelf NYC talent like David Sanborn, Alan Rubin, Tom “Bones” Malone, George Adams, Hannibal Marvin Peterson, and Howard Johnson. As the “Volume One” hints, there will be two more installments that feature compositions that the original orchestra played in the late 70s and early 80s. Forthcoming are; “The Classics,” modern renderings of original Gil Evans arrangements and “Gil & Anita” named for the late jazz icon and his wife.
The core band members include: John Clark (french horn), Mino Cinelu (percussion), Kenwood Dennard (drums), Mark Egan (bass), Miles Evans (trumpet), Alex Foster (tenor and soprano sax), Chris Hunter (alto sax, flute), Pete Levin (keyboards), Shunzo Ohno (trumpet) and David Taylor (bass trombone). Among the many guests are Jon Faddis (trumpet on 4 tracks), Daryl Jones (bass), Vernon Reid (guitar) and Paul Shaffer (Fender Rhodes). The latter three all appear on the Miles Evans tune “LL Funk.”
The album kicks off with Pete Levin’s “Subway,” full of twists and turns, various tones, and aggressive solos from trombonist Dave Bargeron and Alex Foster on tenor, nodding to Wayne Shorter. They give an exciting ride, anchored by the pulsating drumming of Dennard who also shines on the Miles Evan tune, “LL Funk.” Aboard for it are Daryl Jones on bass, a soloing Paul Shaffer, and soloing bassist Matthew Garrison. Vernon Reid, as you’d expect, brings a heavy, almost metal-like guitar to the track as David Mann blows his alto sax above the fray.
Tempo slows from the fury to the peaceful for “I Surrender,” written by keyboardist and the late Delmar Brown, who played in the original Gil Evans Orchestra, in collaboration with Foster who has a healthy share of the soloing. It’s a tribute to Brown who passed in 2017 but is also heard on the first two tracks. “Groove from the Louvre” hearkens back to the Sweet Basil days. It’s composed by John Clark and spotlights his French horn along with trumpeters Ohno and then Alex Sipiani, percussionist Cinelu and bass trombonist Taylor. In addition to these several solos, the ensemble work is quite impressive too. Incidentally, you may recognize Cinelu’s name from his work with Miles Davis and Weather Report.
”Lunar Eclipse” was written by Masabumi Kiuchi and arranged by Gil Evans. Gil Goldstein, an Evans protégé, has the honors on piano, soloing across a synthesizer backdrop with breaks from Cinelu on bongos and Dennard on traps. “Moonstruck,” an ensemble-driven Gil Evans composition follows, clocking in less than two brisk minutes. “Eleven,” also a Gil Evans original composition and arrangement, closes. Miles Davis buffs will recognize it as the originally entitled “Petits Machins (Little Stuff) on Miles’ 1968 Filles de Kilimanjaro. This is a swinging, boisterous close with catchy grooves that serve as the foundation for an alto solo from Chris Hunter, electric piano for Charles Blenzig, and Foster blazing again on his tenor.
This music is vibrant and often stunning. It’s refreshing to hear the music of Gil Evans again and very reassuring to know that two more volumes are forthcoming.
