The Gil Evans Orchestra

Gil Evans – born Gilmore Ian Ernest Green in Toronto, Canada on May 13, 1912 - was a Canadian musician, arranger and band leader who orchestrated classic jazz albums from the 1940s onwards including three with Miles Davis: Miles Ahead (1957), Porgy and Bess (1958) and Sketches of Spain (1960) - that were recognized by the Grammy Awards Hall of Fame. He was known for the rich texture of his charts and the unusual combination of instruments such as alto saxophone, baritone, French horn, trumpet, and tuba that set the stage for soloists to shine. Born in Toronto, Canada, Evans moved to California and joined arranger Claude Thornhill's band and began to write his own arrangements. One of his early arrangements, “Boplicity”, hailed as a masterpiece, was recorded by a big band he put together in 1947 with Miles Davis, saxophonist Gerry Mulligan and pianist John Lewis. Evans prospered by writing and arranging for popular artists such as Pearl Bailey, Tony Bennett, Peggy Lee, Gerry Mulligan, Helen Merrill, and Johnny Mathis. In 1957, a collection of the recordings with Davis, Mulligan and Lewis was released on an album titled Birth of Cool followed rapidly by the three classic Davis albums; their introduction is regarded as a seminal moment in the development of modern jazz. Although an in-demand arranger, Gil Evans was able to release several solo albums before forming his own group, the Gil Evans Orchestra. The albums New Bottle Old Wine (1958) and Gil Evans Orchestra Featuring Cannonball Adderley (1960) found Gil Evans working alongside the jazz saxophonist. In the 1960s, his orchestra released several acclaimed albums including Out of the Cool (1961) and Into the Hot (1962). The Gil Evans Orchestra collaborated with several artists over the decades including Helen Merrill, Kimiko Kasai, Miles Davis, Kenny Burrell & Phil Woods, and many others. In 1974, the group released the album The Gil Evans Orchestra Plays the Music of Jimi Hendrix, an album that surprised many longtime fans but legitimized the music credentials of the late rock guitarist. The Gil Evans Orchestra continued to perform and record well into the 1980s. Gil Evans died on March 20, 1988, at the age of 75.

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