ProJazz.net

Great Jazz Standards is an album by jazz composer, arranger, conductor and pianist Gil Evans recorded in 1959 by Evans with an orchestra featuring Johnny Coles, Steve Lacy, Curtis Fuller, Jimmy Cleveland, Budd Johnson, Ray Crawford, and Elvin Jones.

“A follow-up to New Bottle, Old Wine, this Gil Evans set has colorful arrangements of five jazz standards plus “Ballad of the Sad Young Men” and Evans’ “Theme.” Using a band consisting of three trumpets, three trombones, a French horn, Bill Barber’s tuba, soprano-saxophonist Steve Lacy (the first important post-swing player on his instrument), tenor saxophonist Budd Johnson (on half of the program), and a four-piece rhythm section (including the leader’s piano), Evans contributes some very memorable written ensemble passages, most notably on “Straight No Chaser.” In addition to Lacy and Johnson, the main soloists are trumpeter Johnny Coles, trombonists Curtis Fuller and Jimmy Cleveland, and guitarist Ray Crawford. Highly recommended.” – Scott Yanow/AllMusic.

Track listing:
“Davenport Blues” (Bix Beiderbecke) – 4:26
“Straight, No Chaser” (Thelonious Monk) – 6:19
“Ballad of the Sad Young Men” (Fran Landesman, Tommy Wolf) – 4:00
“Joy Spring” (Clifford Brown) – 2:48
“Django” (John Lewis) – 8:06
“Chant Of The Weed” (Don Redman) – 4:25
“La Nevada” [a.k.a. “Theme”] (Gil Evans) – 6:17
Recorded on February 5, 1959 (tracks 3, 4, 6 & 7) and early 1959 (tracks 1, 2 & 5)

Personnel:
Gil Evans – piano, arranger, conductor
Johnny Coles, Louis Mucci, Allen Smith (tracks 1, 2 & 5), Danny Stiles (tracks 3, 4, 6 & 7) – trumpet
Curtis Fuller, Bill Elton (tracks 1, 2 & 5), Dick Lieb (tracks 1, 2 & 5), Jimmy Cleveland (tracks 3, 4, 6 & 7), Rod Levitt (tracks 3, 4, 6 & 7) – trombone
Bob Northern (tracks 1, 2 & 5), Earl Chapin (tracks 3, 4, 6 & 7) – french horn
Bill Barber – tuba
Steve Lacy – soprano saxophone
Budd Johnson – clarinet, tenor saxophone (tracks 3, 4, 6 & 7)
Al Block (tracks 1, 2 & 5), Ed Caine (tracks 3, 4, 6 & 7) – reeds
Chuck Wayne (tracks 1, 2 & 5), Ray Crawford (tracks 3, 4, 6 & 7) – guitar
Dick Carter (tracks 1, 2 & 5), Tommy Potter (tracks 3, 4, 6 & 7) – bass
Dennis Charles (tracks 1, 2 & 5), Elvin Jones (tracks 3, 4, 6 & 7) – drums

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Released: September 1959
Recorded: Early 1959
New York City
Label: World Pacific
Producer: Richard Bock