Up to 84% in savings when you subscribe to The Absolute Sound
Logo Close Icon

Begin typing your search above and press return to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Jazz

Gil Evans: Gil Evans & Ten

Gil Evans & Ten
Gil Evans: Gil Evans & Ten
  • Music
  • Sonics
  • A
  • A
  • A

Part of Analogue Productions’ series of 25 of the rarest and best sounding Prestige titles recorded by Rudy Van Gelder, this important reissue dates to 1957 and presents for the first time on vinyl in stereo Gil Evans’ debut as both the leader of his own recording session as well as the pianist. As Evans wrote in the liner notes, “Orchestration is one of the elements of composition. You might say that it is the choice of sound units and their manipulation as part of expressing a musical idea.” That simple statement beautifully sums up what’s at work here: seven tracks of remarkable beauty, masterfully executed by 11 players, including most prominently Steve Lacy (alto sax), Jimmy Cleveland (trombone), Paul Chambers (bass), and Evans himself at the keyboard. Remastered by Kevin Gray and impeccably pressed at QRP, the sound is excellent. Tonally rich and warm, but not overly fat or golden, with an airy and expansive soundstage in which the main instruments occupy the front section, layering back to the supporting players, with the drums and bass (mostly) at rear. The horns, especially, are creamy-lush, drums have plenty of snap, and there’s a terrific sense of balance and completeness to the whole.

By Wayne Garcia

Although I’ve been a wine merchant for the past decade, my career in audio was triggered at age 12 when I heard the Stones’ Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! blasting from my future brother-in-law’s giant home-built horn speakers. The sound certainly wasn’t sophisticated, but, man, it sure was exciting.

More articles from this editor

Read Next From Music

Adblocker Detected

"Neque porro quisquam est qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit..."

"There is no one who loves pain itself, who seeks after it and wants to have it, simply because it is pain..."