Gil Evans Orchestra - A Tribute to Gil

Four months after arranger/pianist Gil Evans's death, his Monday Night Band fulfilled their engagements playing at Italian jazz festivals. With several alumni and guests added on, the 16-piece ensemble stretches out on two marathon performances ("Orgone" and "London"), makes very concise (under two-minute) statements on "Moonstruck One" and "Eleven," and features the eccentric singer Urszula Dudziak on "Duet." The results are colorful if not all that memorable; among the soloists are trumpeters Lew Soloff and Miles Evans, altoist Chris Hunter, Alex Foster on tenor, guitarist Bireli Legrene (who is quite rockish on "Prelude to Orgone"), violinist Michal Urbaniak and Pete Levin on synthesizer. Read More