GUNTHER SCHULLER

BILL EVANS ORHESTRA

Brandeis Jazz Festival

Modern Jazz Concert

As you will read in the review this is neither Bill Evan's band nor is there any live recording done. Who knows why Record rables dod what they do?

AllMusic Review by Ken Dryden  [-]

This oddly packaged CD compilation issued by the European label Gambit is a bit misleading, as it combines titles that appeared on several different releases, though none of the performances actually come from a concert. Most of the material is representative of third stream experiments popular for a time in the late '50s and early '60s, with Bill Evans in the role as a hired hand rather than leader, the role that falls either to conductors Gunther Schuller or George Russell, with most of the tracks originating from a Columbia LP titled Modern Jazz Concert and having reappeared in various incarnations with other selections in earlier reissues. Russell's impressive modern big band scoring of his "All About Rosie" is easily one of the highlights, with terrific ensembles and solos. Charles Mingus' "Revelations" is rather ominous, often suggesting the influence of Igor Stravinsky. The last three tracks are from an unrelated live Newport Jazz Festival Verve recording by mellophonist Don Elliott, who leads a quartet with Bill Evans, bassist Ernie Furtado, and drummer Al Beldini through merely average arrangements of three standards. The piecemeal gathering of these very dissimilar sessions for two different labels is troublesome, though the difficulty in acquiring this music make this edition a viable option for collectors

Alto Saxophone – John Laporta

Arranged By, Conductor – George Russell, Gunther Schuller

Baritone Saxophone – Teo Macero

Bass – Ernie Furtado (tracks: 7 to 9), Fred Zimmerman, Joe Benjamin (tracks: 1 to 4)

Bassoon – Manuel Zegler

Bongos – Don Elliott (tracks: 9)

Drums – Al Beldini (tracks: 7 to 9), Ted Sommer*

Flute – Robert DiDomenica

French Horn – Jimmy Buffington*

Guitar – Barry Galbraith

Harp – Margaret Ross

Mellophone – Don Elliott (tracks: 7, 9)

Piano – Bill Evans

Tenor Saxophone – Hal McKusick

Trombone – Jimmy Knepper

Trumpet – Art Farmer, Louis Mucci*

Vibraphone – Don Elliott (tracks: 7), Teddy Charles

Voice, Bass [Pizzicato] – Charles Mingus (tracks: 6)