Gil Evans At 100

Gil Evans, who enriched the art and craft of jazz arranging, was born 100 years ago today. National Public Radio this morning ended one of its hours on Weekend Edition Sunday with a remembrance of Evans and his work. To listen to it, go here and click on “Listen Now.”

Here are three pieces arranged by Evans for an all star orchestra featuring Miles Davis on a 1959 Robert Herridge CBS-TV special. They are from the 1957 Davis album Miles Ahead. Herridge introduces them.

To see a one-hour documentary about Evans, go here.

Alto saxophonist and flutist Gary Foster writes from Los Angeles:

Just in case you haven’t seen this. We recreated music from the three Miles-Gil recordings at the Hollywood Bowl in 2010 and at Monterey last September. The edited recording from Monterey is being broadcast by NPR. With Vince Mendoza conducting and Terence Blanchard playing the solos, to experience the music from inside the orchestra has been extraordinary. There is a rumor that we may play it in Southern California again and make a commercial recording in 2013.

Ending as we began, with NPR, go here to listen to the JazzSet hour of Evans arrangements with Blanchard in the solo trumpet chair.

Orchestra Members

Wayne Bergeron, Chuck Berghofer, Annie Bosler, Gene Cipriano, Wade Culbreath, Marcia Dickstein, Peter Erskine, Miles Evans, Dan Fornero, Gary Foster, Gary Grant, Larry Hall, Greg Huckins, Alan Kaplan, Charlie Loper, Bob McChesney, Charlie Morillas, Mike O’Donovan, Bill Reichenbach, Bob Sheppard, Rick Todd, Brad Warnaar.