CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Sketches of Spain

by: Miles Davis, Gil Evans

Release Date September 23, 1997
Miles Davis was one of the coolest men of our time. This was Davis' third collaboration with Gil Evans and was recorded towards the end of 1959, and this music is both original and remarkably conspicuous. "Concierto de Aranjuez" is the centrepiece around which the whole album was created, and it sucks you in right from the start. This version also includes a bonus track called "Song for Our Country" and another two-track run-through of "Concierto", which blends jazz and classical in such a way that it reaches surrealistic heights of near musical perfection. I've never been to Spain, but this incredibly rich music has me considering planning my next vacation there.

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

The Miles Davis and Gil Evans: Complete Columbia Studio Recordings

by: Miles Davis, Gil Evans

Release Date May 11, 2004
Somewhat difficult to get into the groove of listening, because the set is more of an academic study of the recording sessions with these two giants of the jazz world.

I will edit the set to separate the listenable from the historic; some charts stop in the middle in order to begin another take.

This set also includes several takes of the same chart, as well as different solo break overdubs.

If you're looking for a set to immediately have for an evening's playlist, you'll need to spend some time picking and choosing. You may prefer to purchase their studio CDs individually. However, it's well worth the journey.

At the end of the day, it's Miles Davis during a very introspective yet lyrical ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Porgy and Bess

by: Miles Davis, Gil Evans

Release Date March 25, 1997
While the melodies are lovely, and the music is well played, there is something missing from this recording. It doesn't quite reach the level of Gershwin's dramatic musicianship. Nice to listen to, but it would not be my first choice for this opera.

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

The Complete Pacific Jazz Recordings

by: Gil Evans

Release Date June 06, 2006
Gil Evans clever arrangements and Cannonball Adderly's brillant solos on the first 8 tracks is Jazz at its' best.
All in All an outstanding CD.
Peter Christensen.

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Out of the Cool

by: The Gil Evans Orchestra

Release Date March 26, 1996
Se trata quizás del mejor disco del gran arreglador Gil Evans. En esta grabación plasma una sonoridad más compacta y menos grandilocuente que por ejemplo en sus colaboraciones con Miles Davis. Un disco de lujo, fino, diverso y potente.

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Out of the Cool

by: The Gil Evans Orchestra

Release Date October 09, 2007
What a great classic disc. I'm not usually a fan of big band music, unless it's the Duke or Count Basie, but this is fantastic. Very creative and exquisite arrangements, and superb instrumental solos. There's really no one who did band arrangements like Gil Evans. If you liked his arrangements for the classic Miles Davis albums, you will love this.

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

Last Session

by: Sting & Gil Evans

Release Date December 07, 2004
Agreed,the sound quality is bootleg like and that's a shame. But I'm glad somebody made this magic performance avaible!
Sting is just so emotional on that recording and the Gil Evans Big Band is smoking and playing their hearts out! The solos are amazing 100% feeling and power. The Big Band features such heavy weight players like the late George Adams who was a genius (RIP), Branford Marsalis, John Surman and Lew Soloff as well as Mark Egan and Danny Gottlieb to name a few.
This recording has had an emotional impact on me for all those years I own this recording. It's still one of my all time favorite recordings.
For any admirer of Sting and the late Gil Evans Big Band this is a must have. My favorite tracks are "Strange Fruit" and "Little ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Live at Umbria Jazz, Vol. 1

by: Gil Evans Orchestra

Release Date August 09, 2004
Agreed,the sound quality is bootleg like and that's a shame. But I'm glad somebody made this magic performance avaible!
Sting is just so emotional on that recording and the Gil Evans Big Band is smoking and playing their hearts out! The solos are amazing 100% feeling and power. The Big Band features such heavy weight players like the late George Adams who was a genius (RIP), Branford Marsalis, John Surman and Lew Soloff as well as Mark Egan and Danny Gottlieb to name a few.
This recording has had an emotional impact on me for all those years I own this recording. It's still one of my all time favorite recordings.
For any admirer of Sting and the late Gil Evans Big Band this is a must have. My favorite tracks are "Strange Fruit" and "Little ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

Plays the Music of Jimi Hendrix

by: Gil Evans

Release Date February 05, 2002
1 1/2

A rare major misfire for such a distinguished name in Jazz. Just about all these horned Hendrix interpretations fall flat on their faces due to lumpy orchestrations, plodding pace, and laughable instrumentation. Evans just can't seem to find the soul inherent in Jimi's music and ends up translating the melodies with none of fire and all of the bells and whistles. Some of the misguided fusion remains bearable, a few moments actually feel justified, but a majority of time is spent cringing in utter distaste at the cornball lengths this orchestra went to butcher some great tunes.

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings

by: Miles Davis, Gil Evans

Release Date September 03, 1996
Amen to a lot of what other reviewers have said here. Here's my two cents: I enjoy listening to these albums very much (Sketches of Spain is my favorite in this collection because it's so damn beautiful and creative). But I also enjoy listening to the outtakes.

Yes, most of these outtakes deserve to be on the cutting room floor. But it is neat to listen to Miles and Gil work out those phrases that we all know and love so very much. It's sort of like looking over Picasso's shoulder as he paints or Hemingway's as he writes. The outtakes let you hear a little bit on how these masterpieces were put together.