GIL EVANS — Svengali (aka Gil Evans) (review)

GIL EVANS — Svengali (aka Gil Evans) album cover Live album · 1973 · Progressive Big Band Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
Sean Trane
Svengali is the generally-agreed masterpiece of Gil Evans in the 70’s, but if you’re a fan of Evans’ 60’s warm arrangements, you might not always find that Gil’s 70’s re-orchestration are in your tastes, because many consider the ambiances as colder, despite being of a groovier feel. Difficult to argue with that, but I certainly don’t think it’s a flaw, and IMHO this is Evans’ apex in his second career (the 70’s), after a fairly lengthy silence between 61 and 69, with only the astounding Individualism album of 64. Armed with an extensive big band - from which will emerge David Sanborn and Billy Harper (both saxmen) some time later on in the decade - Evans pulls off another very strong work, if a tad uneven at places. The weird thing about this album is that two of its longer tracks were already on the previous Blues In Orbit album from 71.

Opening on the enthralling Harper-penned Thoroughbred, the album continues with the uneven 10-mins+ Blues In Orbit, where you’ll find some odd synth sound that clash somewhat over the modern funky big-band instrumental fusion, but in general, Evans’ arrangements are quite tasty. Too bad the inconsequent (but thankfully short) rear-guard rendition of Miles’ Eleven closes the A-side. The flipside opens on Cry Of Hunger, but Harper’ slightly dissonant sax solo over some strange background clash a bit with the blues nature of the piece. This is the typical track that the 70’s-Evans-work detractors will point out as “cold feel”, but it’s nothing shocking to me. The rearranged Gershwin-classic Summertime is up next, and it is very much slowed-down, but it adds a unique feeling, reinforced by Dunbar’s excellent guitar solo up front. Cool stuff. The closing live-recorded Zee Zee is an absolutely stunning slow-paced almost-gloomy track, with some splendid Hannibal trumpet interventions.

Definitely Evans’ best 70’s album - by a long shot (haven’t heard them all, though) -, even if the first two tracks had appeared on a previous album with different arrangements, Svengali renews with Gil’s full splendour. I’ve seen the album come with a very different abstract artwork on a German label, but prefer the original one. Not totally indispensable maybe, but still rather essential.

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