The Gil Evans Orchestra Plays the Music of Jimi Hendrix

The Gil Evans Orchestra Plays the Music of Jimi Hendrix is an album of Jimi Hendrix's compositions by jazz composer, conductor and pianist Gil Evans. The music was arranged by Evans and members of his orchestra. The album was recorded in 1974 and performed by Evans with an orchestra featuring David Sanborn, Howard Johnson, Billy Harper, and John Abercrombie.[1] The album was re-released with additional tracks on CD in 1988.[2]

The Gil Evans Orchestra Plays the Music of Jimi Hendrix
Studio album by Gil Evans Orchestra
Released	1974
Recorded	June 11, 12 & 13, 1974
Genre	Jazz
Length	74:33 Reissue with bonus tracks
Label	RCA CPL1-0667
Producer	Gil Evans
Gil Evans chronology
Svengali (1973) The Gil Evans Orchestra Plays the Music of Jimi Hendrix (1974) Montreux Jazz Festival '74 (1975)

Reception

The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4½ stars stating "Evans' arrangements uplift many of Hendrix's more blues-oriented compositions and create a memorable set that is rock-oriented but retains the improvisation and personality of jazz".[3]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[3]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[4]

Track listing

All compositions by Jimi Hendrix

1. "Angel" – 4:09 (arr. by Tom Malone)
2. "Crosstown Traffic / Little Miss Lover" – 6:32 (arr. by Tom Malone)
3. "Castles Made of Sand (arr. by Gil Evans) / Foxey Lady" (arr. by Warren Smith) – 11:26
4. "Up from the Skies" [Take 1 - Original Master] – 9:16 (arr. by Gil Evans)
5. "1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)" – 7:32 (arr. by David Horowitz)
6. "Voodoo Child" – 5:02 (arr. by Howard Johnson)
7. "Gypsy Eyes" – 3:40 (arr. by Trevor Koehler)
8. "Little Wing – 5:33 Bonus track on CD reissue (arr. by Gil Evans)
9. "Up from the Skies" [Take 2 – Alternate Take] – 9:53 (arr. by Gil Evans) Bonus track on CD reissue

• Recorded in RCA's Studio B in New York City on June 11 (tracks 4 & 9), June 12 (tracks 2, 6 & 7) and June 13 (tracks 1, 3 & 5), 1974, and April 14, 25 & 28, 1975 (track 8)

Personnel

• Gil Evans – piano, electric piano, arranger, conductor
• Hannibal Marvin Peterson – trumpet, vocals
• Lew Soloff – trumpet, flugelhorn, piccolo trumpet
• Peter Gordon – French horn
• Pete Levin – French horn, synthesizer
• Tom Malone – trombone, bass trombone, flute, synthesizer, arranger
• Howard Johnson – tuba, bass clarinet, electric bass, arranger
• David Sanborn – alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute
• Billy Harper – tenor saxophone, flute
• Trevor Koehler – tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, flute, baritone saxophone, soprano saxophone, arranger
• John Abercrombie, Ryo Kawasaki – electric guitar
• Keith Loving – guitar
• Don Pate – bass
• Michael Moore – electric bass, acoustic bass
• Bruce Ditmas – drums
• Warren Smith – vibraphone, marimba, chimes, latin percussion
• Sue Evans – drums, congas, percussion

References

1. Gil Evans discography accessed June 12, 2014.
2. Discogs album entry, accessed June 12, 2014
3. Yanow, S. Allmusic Review accessed June 12, 2014.
4. Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 74. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.