Blues in Orbit (Gil Evans album)

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.[1] 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.[2]

Blues in Orbit
Studio album by
Released1980
Recorded1969 and 1971, New York City
GenreJazz
Length36:20
LabelEnja 3069
ProducerSam Gordon
Gil Evans chronology
The Individualism of Gil Evans
(1964)
Blues in Orbit
(1980)
Satin Doll
(1972)

Reception

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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."[3]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [3]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide     [4]

Track listing

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All compositions by Gil Evans except as indicated

  1. "Thoroughbred" (Billy Harper) - 4:57
  2. "Spaced" - 3:04
  3. "Love In the Open" (Warren Smith) - 6:49
  4. "Variation on the Misery" - 3:03
  5. "Blues In Orbit" (George Russell) - 6:49
  6. "Proclamation" - 1:48
  7. "General Assembly" (aka "Time of the Barracudas" by Miles Davis and Gil Evans) - 7:12
  8. "So Long" - 2:27
  • Recorded in New York in 1969 (tracks 2–4 & 6–8) and 1971 (tracks 1 & 5)

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ Gil Evans discography accessed June 12, 2014.
  2. ^ Discogs album entry, accessed June 12, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Yanow, S. AllMusic Review accessed June 12, 2014.
  4. ^ Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. pp. 74. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.