GIL EVANS

THE GIL EVANS ORCHESTRA
PLAYS THE MUSIC OF JIMI HENDRIX (1974)
256-320 KBPS

Gil Evans will forever be remembered as the arranger for those classic Miles Davis orchestral albums, but Evans led his own orchestra from the '60s until his death in 1988. A true fusion of jazz's free-ranging leanings and Hendrix's psychedelic and blues jams, Plays the Music of Jimi Hendrix is a masterstroke for Evans, who was actually supposed to do an album with Hendrix himself. Evans completely revamps classics like "Crosstown Traffic," "Voodoo Chile," and "Little Wing," twisting these tunes in a way that might even blow Hendrix's mind. Rather than turning the session into guitar wank fest, the horn-heavy group (which prominently features saxophonist David Sanborn) really comes up with something different. And although the early synthesizers and production aesthetic makes this sound dated, it should still appeal to a new generation of fans. People have rediscovered producer David Axelrod--Gil Evans is just as skilled at mixing jazz and rock, but he's even further out (as the crazed tuba solo on "Voodoo Chile" attests).

1. Angel
2. Crosstown Traffic
3. Medley
4. Up From The Skies
5. 1983-A Merman I Should Turn To Be
6. Voodoo Chile
7. Gypsy Eyes
8. Little Wing