Sean Trane
Not sure why this album was named after the Gil Evans Orchestra, when it’s actually a schizophrenic disc with two totally different formations, none being really Gil’s. Indeed part of the works is of John Carisi’s Orchestra (three different recording dates) alternating with one session with the Cecil Taylor Septet, both featuring tracks that are penned by the respective leaders. As you can guess, this is the counterpoint album to his previous Out Of The Cool album, also on the Impulse! label. From Carisi’s orchestra, the only name that sounds vaguely familiar (to moi, anyway) is bassist Art Davis, but in Cecil’s band, we have saxmen Jimmy Lyons and Archie Shepp to stand out as future stars. Just to give an idea of the Taylor’s material it ranges from free jazz (Pots) to hard bop (Bulbs).
When I said the album is schizophrenic, I mean that even the more casual listener will be able to tell right away the tight and restrained Carisi pieces from the much freer-sounding Cecil Taylor compositions. The main interest of the alternation is to create a sort of mad lunacy, not allowing the listener to rest on his newly-acquired laurels; but to be honest, I’d much prefer a half-baked Cecil-Evans collaboration than any kind of Carisi meisterwerk. Don’t pay too much attention to my opinion; this kind of album is nowhere close to what I’m looking for in jazz, but ITH is definitely consolidating stone to Evans’ works. Its alter Ego, OOTC is a much more exciting affair.