Gil Evans - Out Of The Cool

"...From the opening maracas and subsequent introduction of each instrument on 'La Nevada,' it's clear that this is a very, very special recording. At its best, the musicians are spread out and solidly anchored in place in the listening room. The soundstage is positively huge and instrumental tonality is exceptional." - Myles B. Astor, Positive Feedback Online, Issue 49

"...Out of the Cool, recorded in 1962, stands as Evans' grandest achievement, apart from his finest works with Miles Davis fronting the orchestra (Sketches of Spain, Miles Ahead), and it's one of the first of Kassem's Impulse! 45 releases...Van Gelder did his part with the mikes; and Kassem's remasters do theirs with the cutting lathe. Their 45rpm stereo pressing sounds at least as good - in the highs and lows, better - than the original, and that's saying a lot." - Fred Kaplan, Stereophile

"...Out of the Cool, perhaps even more than his collaborations with Miles Davis, spotlights Gil Evans' brilliance as a writer and arranger...The results are lovely, sometimes cerebral jazz meditations, and the soundstage is expansive, with soloists firmly rooted within; the musicians unfurl ribbons of fabulously layered tone colors, and the recording captures the orchestra's terrific dynamic range." - Wayne Garcia, The Absolute Sound, June/July 2009

A groundbreaking jazz recording by the longtime Miles Davis collaborator Gil Evans highlights the latter's supreme and influential skills as a jazz orchestrator. This album is a brilliant example of Evans' ability to make a large orchestra sound like a smaller jazz combo using orchestrations that infuse the larger unit with the immediacy and spontaneity of the smaller. Out Of The Cool features some of Evan's finest compositions, including the famous "La Nevada" as well as a magnificent performance of George Russell's "Sratosphunk." Soloists include Budd Johnson (tenor), Johnny Coles (trumpet), Ray Crawford (guitar), Elvin Jones (drums), Ron Carter (bass) and Jimmy Knepper (trombone). The ensemble is superbly recorded by the legendary Rudy Van Gelder. A must-have for all lovers of jazz.

Originally released in 1960.

Gil Evans, piano

Billy Ray Barber, tuba

Raymond Beckenstein, flute, piccolo, alto saxophone

Eddie Caine, flute, piccolo, alto saxophone

Ron Carter, bass, trombone

Johnny Coles, trumpet

Ray Crawford, guitar

Budd Johnson, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone

Keg Johnson, trombone

Elvin Jones, percussion, drums

Jimmy Knepper, trombone

Charlie Persip, percussion, drums

Tony Studd, trombone

Phil Sunkel, trumpet

Bob Tricarico, flute, bassoon, piccolo

1. La Nevada

2. Where Flamingos Fly

3. Bilbao Song

4. Stratusphunk

5. Sunken Treasure