Gil Evans: La Nevada
Musicians:
Gil Evans (piano), Johnny Coles (trumpet), Jimmy Knepper (trombone), Ron Carter (bass), Charlie Persip (drums, percussion), Elvin Jones (drums, percussion),
Phil Sunkel (trumpet), Keg Johnson (trombone), Tony Studd (bass trombone), Bill Barber (tuba), Ray Beckenstein (alto sax, flute, piccolo), Bob Tricarico (bassoon, flute, piccolo), Ray Crawford (guitar)
.Composed and arranged by Gil Evans
.Recorded: Englewood Cliffs, NJ, December, 10, 1960
Rating: 90/100 (learn more)
“La Nevada” is Spanish for “Snowfall,” bandleader Claude Thornhill’s theme. Yet in contrast to the airtight orchestrations Gil Evans crafted for Thornhill in the 1940s and for Miles Davis in the ‘50s, “La Nevada” is a well-ventilated head arrangement. Of course, when the head involved is Gil Evans’s, expect no run-of- the-mill run-through. Although somewhat overlong at 15½ minutes, this convivial track shines a much- needed spotlight on such deserving-of-wider-recognition standbys as Johnny Coles, Tony Studd, Budd Johnson and Ray Crawford—the last-named demonstrating how the guitar, far from getting lost in a big band, can in the right hands be salient.
Reviewer: Alan Kurtz
Other reviews for this track:
- Gil Evans: La Nevada by Thierry Quénum (95/100)
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