Miles Davis/Gil Evans: Still Ahead

LA Phil · July-21st-2009, 04:41 PM

"Miles Davis/Gil Evans: Still Ahead" at the Hollywood Bowl on Wed. Aug 5 at 8 pm featuring Terence Blanchard, Nicholas Payton, Jimmy Cobb, Christian McBride, Peter Erskine and Howard Johnson. Vince Mendoza conducts; Miles Evans is Artistic Director.

This concert is a rare performance of the original Gil Evans charts for landmark Miles and Gil collaborations such as Porgy and Bess, Sketches of Spain and Miles Ahead. Bassist Christian McBride is joined by an all-star line-up including special guest from the original recordings, Jimmy Cobb (drums) and original member of Gil Evans’ band Howard Johnson (tuba). Other featured soloists include Terence Blanchard and Nicholas Payton (trumpet) and Peter Erskine (drums). This concert will also feature video footage of the original recording sessions. Miles Evans is the artistic director and Vince Mendoza is the conductor.

For more information, please visit www.hollywoodbowl.com.

Valerie · July-21st-2009, 06:40 PM

isn't Miles Evans, Gil's son who was named after you-know-who?!? this should be a great evening! i definitely plan to be there.

clinthopson · July-21st-2009, 06:46 PM

Yes, he is.

I wish the Bowl wasn't such a hassle for us. I'd like to see that concert.

Valerie · July-21st-2009, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clinthopson

Yes, he is.

I wish the Bowl wasn't such a hassle for us. I'd like to see that concert.

c'mon up, Clint. i'll have a ticket for you if you do!

Ron Thorne · July-21st-2009, 08:14 PM

Man, would I love to experience this evening! Maybe our son, Justin, can be my eyes and ears in my absence.

What a lineup. I'll look forward to a review.

Valerie · July-21st-2009, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Thorne

Man, would I love to experience this evening! Maybe our son, Justin, can be my eyes and ears in my absence.

What a lineup. I'll look forward to a review.

if Clint doesn't take me up on my offer, i'd love to have Justin as my "date"! it's going to be a very special evening, of that i'm sure. xoxo

Ron Thorne · July-21st-2009, 08:31 PM

That's a very sweet offer, Valerie. I'll await Clint's decision before alerting the "lad".

I'm totally confident that this could be a mind-altering evening of music.

Gentle Giant · July-21st-2009, 09:45 PM

Would love to hear Ersk driving that band.

Pete C · July-21st-2009, 11:19 PM

The biggest mistake everyone makes when they do those charts is to feature a trumpeter. There's no law that says it has to be a trumpeter, and none can compete with Miles. In fact, some of the same charts Miles did were recorded by Helen Merrill with Gil. I've seen this music performed by the Maria Schneider orchestra with Ingrid Jensen and the Chicago Jazz Orchestra (or was it the CJE?) with an excellent Chicago trumpeter whose name escapes me, and both times I thought, why slavishly feature a trumpeter? As good as both trumpeters were, I'd have rather seen multiple soloists on various instruments. One of the problems with jazz is how hidebound and literal people in the biz can be.

Pete C · July-21st-2009, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Thorne

I'm totally confident that this could be a mind-altering evening of music.

In what way would a live performance of charts you probably can sing by heart by now be mind-altering?

bigtiny · July-21st-2009, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete C

The biggest mistake everyone makes when they do those charts is to feature a trumpeter. There's no law that says it has to be a trumpeter, and none can compete with Miles. In fact, some of the same charts Miles did were recorded by Helen Merrill with Gil. I've seen this music performed by the Maria Schneider orchestra with Ingrid Jensen and the Chicago Jazz Orchestra (or was it the CJE?) with an excellent Chicago trumpeter whose name escapes me, and both times I thought, why slavishly feature a trumpeter? As good as both trumpeters were, I'd have rather seen multiple soloists on various instruments. One of the problems with jazz is how hidebound and literal people in the biz can be.

I don't really understand the motivation for doing these performances at all (other than the fact that the idea sells....). Gil wrote that music specifically with Miles in mind and it's been done. Nobody is ever going to do it as well as Miles because it was written for him (and because ... he's friggin' Miles Davis!).

I'd rather they put together a killer band and do material from across the whole spectrum of Gil's work....now THAT would be interesting!

bigtiny

Ron Thorne · July-21st-2009, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete C

In what way would a live performance of charts you probably can sing by heart by now be mind-altering?

You just answered your own question, Pete.

I would dig hearing these very familiar charts played live by this fine group of musicians, some of whom experienced them with Miles.

Perhaps "mind-altering" is too strong a term, especially for you.

Quote:

The biggest mistake everyone makes when they do those charts is to feature a trumpeter.

While I understand this sentiment, how can it (the "mistake") be avoided? Perhaps, if you were the Artistic Director?

Valerie · July-22nd-2009, 12:27 AM

sure glad i didn't offer a ticket to Pete! what a kill-joy! i'm betting the evening is going to be spectacular, in spite of you, Pete! LOL!

Pete C · July-22nd-2009, 10:16 AM

Just call me The Grinch Who Stole Jazz. Oops, wait, that's Jon Abbey.

Pete C · July-22nd-2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Thorne

While I understand this sentiment, how can it (the "mistake") be avoided?

Um, by featuring a saxophonist on one tune, a trombonist on another, a singer on Summertime (the arrangement I alluded to above), a guitarist on Concierto, etc. They're charts with space for a soloist, originally Miles, but not necessarily for a Miles substitute.

Pete C · July-22nd-2009, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigtiny

I'd rather they put together a killer band and do material from across the whole spectrum of Gil's work....now THAT would be interesting!

Agreed, but less of a safe, marketable idea I guess.

CraigP · July-22nd-2009, 11:26 AM

Having soloists who play something other than a trumpet is less of a safe, marketable idea, too. I would personally like that, but I think a lot of people have the trumpet sound ingrained in their head when they think of this music, so they'd be disappointed.

clinthopson · July-22nd-2009, 11:45 AM

Valerie,

As tempting as it is, recovering from knee surgery and facing an hour plus drive in heavy traffic to Hollyweird, battling parking and the hike to the seats plus the same schlep back is a bit much for me at this time.

I love ya babe, but I think you can appreciate my position.

hornplayer · July-22nd-2009, 01:04 PM

Count me among those who is sad to be missing this event! I love both Terrence and Nicholas, and don't think they will be trying to channel Miles. They're great in their own right.

Altho... I would also find the programming Pete suggested interesting.

and I love the Hollywood Bowl.

Pete, I'm guessing that Chicago trumpet player was Orbert Davis.

Valerie · July-22nd-2009, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clinthopson

Valerie,

As tempting as it is, recovering from knee surgery and facing an hour plus drive in heavy traffic to Hollyweird, battling parking and the hike to the seats plus the same schlep back is a bit much for me at this time.

I love ya babe, but I think you can appreciate my position.

sorry about your "position" but glad you're recovering!! that's the most important thing!

sounds like you might have a very worthy "sub" in Justin!!

Ron Thorne · July-22nd-2009, 04:23 PM

I'm not so sure that attendees will hear something "safe", but I certainly agree that something of this nature in a venue of this size definitely needs to be marketable.

Jon Abbey · July-23rd-2009, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete C

Just call me The Grinch Who Stole Jazz. Oops, wait, that's Jon Abbey.

nothing to steal, it died on its own.

Pete C · July-23rd-2009, 11:01 AM

I can always count on Abbey to make me look like less of a bastard

Jon Abbey · July-23rd-2009, 11:18 AM

only in jazz discussions.

7/4 · July-23rd-2009, 03:09 PM

Bah!

...

Uli · July-24th-2009, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7/4

Bah..

maybe in all "experimental" music? eg on Zorn and the Tzadik label:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

which is understandable in most cases, but when it's experimental music's worst executive producer in charge of things, it's worth noting and usually avoiding, at least until the non-Tzadik part of the discography is explored. do you know Border Music?