Although this album (reissued on CD) proudly states that it is by
the Gil Evans Orchestra and has
Evans' picture on the cover, the arranger actually had nothing to do with the music. Three songs have the nucleus of his big band performing numbers composed, arranged, and conducted by
John Carisi (who also plays one of the trumpets). Those selections by the composer of "Israel" are disappointingly forgettable. The other three performances are even further away from
Evans for they are actually selections by avant-garde pianist
Cecil Taylor's septet!
Taylor's music features trumpeter
Ted Curson, trombonist
Roswell Rudd, altoist
Jimmy Lyons, tenor saxophonist
Archie Shepp, bassist
Henry Grimes, and drummer
Sunny Murray and is quite adventurous and exciting, the main reason to acquire this somewhat misleading set. ~ Scott Yanow