Gil Evans - The Complete Pacific Jazz Sessions (1958, 1959) 2006, Blue Note [FLAC|Lossless|tracks + .cue] <Cool, Modern Big Band>

Gil Evans released two records on World Pacific in 1958 and 1959. They were among his earliest dates as a leader. Gil Evans & Ten was issued by Prestige in 1957, but these dates stand out more. New Bottle, Old Wine was the first of the pair and the band included four trumpets, a trio of trombones, French horn (played by Julius Watkins), a pair of tubas, Cannonball Adderley as the lone saxophonist, and a rhythm section that included either Philly Joe Jones or Art Blakey on drums, Paul Chambers on bass, and Chuck Wayne on guitar. The reading of "King Porter Stomp" is the stunner here, with Adderley's solo being a prized moment. There isn't a weak cut in the whole mess though. Other standouts include Fats Waller's "Willow Tree," "Lester Leaps In," with great solos by Wayne and Adderley, the burning finale of Dizzy Gillespie's "Manteca," and Charlie Parker's "Bird Feathers" closing it out.
The second of these albums, Great Jazz Standards, featured a similar band with some notable differences. For one, the inclusion of soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy as a soloist and rhythm sections that included either Dennis Charles or Elvin Jones on drums, Curtis Fuller on trombone, and Budd Johnson on tenor for about half the set. The finer moments here include "Ballad of the Sad Young Men," (a newish tune at the time with a fine piano solo by Evans) John Lewis' "Django," with a truly brilliant and understated solo by Lacy, who also does a commendable job on "Straight No Chaser." Johnson wails on Gil Evans' "La Nevada (Theme)." Evans arrangement of Clifford Brown's "Joy Spring" is also a killer, with his and guitarist Ray Crawford's solos. The Complete Pacific Jazz Recordings is a fine collection issued by Blue Note, which, as part of the Connoisseur Series, is limited and will be out of print again soon. Don't wait. (Thom Jurek)

1-8:

Johnny Coles, Louis Mucci, Ernie Royal (1-3,5,6), Clyde Reasinger (4,7,8) - trumpets
Frank Rehak, Joe Bennett – trombones
Tom Mitchell - bass trombone
Julius Watkins - French horn
Harvey Phillips (1,2,5,6), Bill Barber (3,4,7,8) – tuba
Cannonball Adderley - alto saxophone
Gerald Sanfino (1,2,5,6), Phil Bodner (3,4,7,8) - piccolo, flute, bass clarinet, English horn
Chuck Wayne - guitar
Paul Chambers - bass
Philly Joe Jones (3), Art Blakey (all others) - drums
Gil Evans - piano, arranger, conductor

Recorded at Judson Hall, New York on April 9 (1,2,5,6), May 2 (3), May 21 (4), and May 26 (7,8), 1958.

9,10,13:

Johnny Coles, Louis Mucci, Allen Smith - trumpets
Bill Elton, Curtis Fuller - trombones
Dick Lieb - bass trombone
Bob Northern - French horn
Bill Barber - tuba
Steve Lacy - soprano saxophone
Al Block - flute, clarinet, bass clarinet
Chuck Wayne - guitar
Dick Carter - bass
Dennis Charles - drums
Gil Evans - piano, arranger, conductor

Recorded at Webster Hall, New York in early 1959.

11,12,14,15:

Johnny Coles, Louis Mucci - trumpets
Jimmy Cleveland, Curtis Fuller - trombones
Rod Levitt - bass trombone
Earl Chapin - French horn
Bill Barber - tuba
Steve Lacy - soprano saxophone
Eddie Caine - alto saxophone
Budd Johnson - tenor saxophone, clarinet
Ray Crawford - guitar
Tommy Potter - bass
Elvin Jones - drums
Gil Evans - piano, arranger, conductor

Recorded at Webster Hall, New York on February 2, 1959.