Gil Evans: Out of the Cool: His Life and Music

by Stephanie Stein Crease

The life (1912–1988) and career of Gil Evans paralleled and often foreshadowed the quickly changing world of jazz through the 20th century. Gil Out of the Cool is the comprehensive biography of a self-taught musician whom colleagues often regarded as a mentor. His innovative work as a composer, arranger, and bandleader-for Miles Davis, with whom he frequently collaborated over the course of four decades, and for his own ensembles-places him alongside Duke Ellington and Aaron Copland as one of the giants of American music. His unflagging creativity galvanized the most prominent jazz musicians in the world, both black and white. This biography traces Evans's early his first dance bands in California during the Depression; his life as a studio arranger in Hollywood; and his early work with Claude Thornhill, one of the most unusual bandleaders of the Big Band Era. After settling in New York City in 1946, Evans's basement apartment quickly became a meeting ground for musicians. The discussions that took place there among Miles Davis, Gerry Mulligan, John Lewis, and others resulted in the “Birth of the Cool” scores for the Miles Davis Nonet and, later on, for Evans’s masterpieces with “Miles Ahead,” “Porgy and Bess,” and “Sketches of Spain.” This replaces 1556524250. Winner of the ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award The life (1912–1988) and career of Gil Evans paralleled and often foreshadowed the quickly changing world of jazz through the 20th century. Gil Out of the Cool is the comprehensive biography of a self-taught musician whom colleagues often regarded as a mentor. His innovative work as a composer, arranger, and bandleader-for Miles Davis, with whom he frequently collaborated over the course of four decades, and for his own ensembles-places him alongside Duke Ellington and Aaron Copland as one of the giants of American music. His unflagging creativity galvanized the most prominent jazz musicians in the world, both black and white. This biography traces Evans's early his first dance bands in California during the Depression; his life as a studio arranger in Hollywood; and his early work with Claude Thornhill, one of the most unusual bandleaders of the Big Band Era. After settling in New York City in 1946, Evans's basement apartment quickly became a meeting ground for musicians. The discussions that took place there among Miles Davis, Gerry Mulligan, John Lewis, and others resulted in the “Birth of the Cool” scores for the Miles Davis Nonet and, later on, for Evans’s masterpieces with “Miles Ahead,” “Porgy and Bess,” and “Sketches of Spain.”

Genres: Biography, Music, Jazz

416 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2001

Reviews

[Bailey Brosamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was so much amazing information in this book! The balance between the discussion of both his life and music was perfect, though I would have liked more technical discussion of the music. It was cool to read about Maria Schneider’s work for him, as well as about the fact that he was planning an album of Stevie Wonder arrangements before his passing. I would recommend this book to jazz composers and people interested in a more niche, less discussed figure in jazz that was essential to the development of big band fusion music and so many other eras of ensembles.

If you’re curious about the book but have never heard about Gil Evans, there is a selection of his discography on his website that does great justice to the various phases of Evans’ career!

[Ellie O'Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just technical enough for me, explaining many of the original approaches Evans had to arranging music. Stein Crease presents a thoroughly researched study of this under-rated American genius.

[Fritz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evans was a cool cat who lived for his music, hung out with lots of jazz giants, but lacked the drive of a Quincy Jones. Must have been all the dope he smoked. The book is a good companion to his records, but not a very exciting read.

[Georgia Press · Rating 4 out of 5]

everything this man touches turned to gold