Interesting, Unpredictable, and Unexpected - A Classic!
L. Brown | Los Angeles | 06/14/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Legendary arranger Gil Evans made his first recording as a leader since the mid 1960's with this album. He led an orchestra considered a transition between his 1950s groups and his somewhat electric band of the 1970s (though though track 1, Thoroughbred, and track 5, Blues In Orbit, were actually recorded in 1971). His arrangement of George Russell's "Blues in Orbit" is exquisite and Evans utilizes sidemen Jimmy Cleveland (trombone), Howard Johnson (tuba), Billy Harper (saxophone), and Joe Beck (guitar) in many unimaginable ways, showing his unique brilliance with suppleness and sublety.
All tracks were recorded in New York. Tracks 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8 were all recorded in 1969."
Early Fusion at its Best
directions | Space Time Foam | 11/14/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Though not the Gil Evans album to start with (that would be "Out of the Cool"), "Blues in Orbit" is a fascinating transition between Gil Evan's earlier acoustic classics to his not so amazing fusion period, while still in keeping with his progressive hard bop meets big band sound. "Blues in Orbit" has a few songs (such as the opening track) that sound relatively conventional while others (such as the title track)are fusion with aspects of free jazz. Gil Evans was obviously keeping up with the times (remember that he was going to collaborate with Jimi Hendrix and when that didn't materialize, recorded an entire album of his compositions) and though he didn't compose much or tour much at the time (that would change) "Blues in Orbit" sounds more vital, raw and energetic than most of 70's fusion (except for Miles of course) would even approach."
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1
