Live at the Public Theater (New York 1980) explained

Live at the Public Theater (New York 1980)
Type:	Live album
Artist:	Gil Evans
Cover:	Live at the Public Theatre.jpg
Released:	Volume 1: 1980 Volume 2: 1981
Recorded:	February 8–9, 1980
Venue:	The Public Theater, NYC
Genre:	Jazz
Length:	37:40
Producer:	Masabumi Kikuchi
Chronology:	Gil Evans
Prev Title:	Anti-Heroes
Prev Year:	1980
Next Title:	Where Flamingos Fly
Next Year:	1981

Live at the Public Theater (New York 1980) is a live album by jazz composer, arranger, conductor and pianist Gil Evans recorded in New York in 1980 by Evans with an orchestra featuring Arthur Blythe, Hamiet Bluiett, and Lew Soloff and originally released from Japanese Trio label in two volumes.^[1] Integrated version was first released in 1986 from Japanese Crown Record's Break Time label as 2xCDs album, and one track was added in the release from Japanese Venus Records label of 1993.

Reception

AllMusic awarded the first volume 3 stars stating "One of arranger Gil Evans's main talents was his ability to fuse diverse, unique performers into a unified ensemble. He accomplishes that... even if his presence is felt more than heard".^[2] They gave the second volume 2½ stars noting " Although the end results do not quite live up to the potential of this unique ensemble, there are plenty of colorful moments".^[3]

Track listing

All compositions by Gil Evans except where noted.

Volume 1 (disc 1):

1. "Anita's Dance" – 17:11
2. "Jelly Roll" – 4:48
3. "Alyrio" – 3:14
4. "Variation on the Misery" – 6:20
5. "Gone, Gone, Gone" (George Gershwin) – 7:51
6. "Up from the Skies" (Jimi Hendrix) – 4:19

Volume 2 (disc 2):

1. "Copenhagen Sight" – 6:27
2. "Zee Zee" – 11:02
3. "Sirhan's Blues" (John Benson Brooks) – 7:41
4. "Stone Free" (Hendrix) – 14:14
5. "Orange Was the Color of Her Dress, Then Blue Silk" (Charles Mingus) – 9:33
6. "Listen To The Silence" – 8:57 – added in disc 2 of Venus Records [1993] version and after releases

Personnel

• Gil Evans – electric piano, arranger, conductor
• Lew Soloff, Jon Faddis, Hannibal Marvin Peterson – trumpet
  • John Clark – French horn George Lewis – trombone
    • • Arthur Blythe – alto saxophone, soprano saxophone Hamiet Bluiett – baritone saxophone, alto flute Dave Bargeron – trombone, tuba Masabumi Kikuchi – synthesizer, organ
      • Pete Levin – synthesizer, minimoog, clavinet Tim Landers – electric bass Billy Cobham – drums Alyrio Lima – percussion

Notes and References

1. http://sudo.3.pro.tok2.com/Quest/cards/G/GilEvans/LiveAtThePublicTheater_x.html Gil Evans discography
2. Yanow, S., Allmusic Review accessed June 17, 2014.
3. Yanow, S., Allmusic Review accessed June 17, 2014.