Blues in Orbit is an album by jazz composer, arranger, conductor and pianist Gil Evans, recorded in 1969 and 1971 by Evans with an orchestra featuring Jimmy Cleveland, Howard Johnson, Billy Harper, and Joe Beck.Gil Evans discography accessed June 12, 2014. The album was originally released on the short-lived Ampex label (with a different running order) as Gil Evans (1970) but received wider release on the Enja label under this title.Discogs album entry, accessed June 12, 2014.
Reception The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow stated: "Arranger Gil Evans's first recording as a leader in five years found him leading an orchestra that could be considered a transition between his 1950s groups and his somewhat electric band of the 1970s... A near-classic release."Yanow, S. AllMusic Review accessed June 12, 2014.
Track listing All compositions by Gil Evans except as indicated "Thoroughbred" (Billy Harper) - 4:57 "Spaced" - 3:04 "Love In the Open" (Warren Smith) - 6:49 "Variation on the Misery" - 3:03 "Blues In Orbit" (George Russell) - 6:49 "Proclamation" - 1:48 "General Assembly" (a.k.a. "Time of the Barracudas" by Miles Davis and Gil Evans) - 7:12 "So Long" - 2:27 Recorded in New York in 1969 (tracks 2–4 & 6–8) and 1971 (tracks 1 & 5)
Personnel Gil Evans - piano, electric piano, arranger, conductor Johnny Coles (tracks 1 & 5), Mike Lawrence (tracks 2–4 & 6–8), Ernie Royal (tracks 1 & 5), Snooky Young (tracks 2–4 & 6–8) - trumpet Garnett Brown (tracks 1 & 5), Jimmy Cleveland, Jimmy Knepper (tracks 2–4 & 6–8) - trombone Ray Alonge (tracks 1 & 5), Julius Watkins (tracks 2–4 & 6–8) - French horn Howard Johnson - tuba, baritone saxophone Hubert Laws - flute (tracks 2–4 & 6–8) Billy Harper - tenor saxophone George Marge - flute, tenor saxophone (tracks 1 & 5) Joe Beck - guitar (tracks 2–4 & 6–8) Gene Bianco - harp Herb Bushler - bass Elvin Jones (tracks 2–4 & 6–8), Alphonse Mouzon (tracks 1 & 5) - drums Sue Evans, Donald McDonald - percussion
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