It’s a dozen years since Nonsequence, Mike Gibbs’ album, recorded with Germany’s NDR Big Band and stellar soloists including Randy Brecker, Lew Soloff and Chris Potter, was released. That feat of eclecticism was typical of a composer happy to include straightahead jazz, hi-life, and even the wartime swing of Glenn Miller within the album’s remit. Gibbs and the NDR came together again in 2011 for a limited edition album Here’s A Song For You recorded with singer Norma Winstone. But fast forward to August and that fairly rare thing, a new Mike Gibbs album, and a narrowing in on one primary influence and preoccupation of Gibbs’: the music of Gil Evans. Mike Gibbs + 12 Play Gil Evans was recorded in London at the end of last year and will be released by Whirlwind Recordings on 12 August. The Gibbs 12 are Hans Koller, piano; Julian Siegel, saxophones and bass clarinet; Finn Peters, alto saxophone, flutes; Lluis Mather, tenor saxophone, clarinet; Percy Pursglove, trumpet; Robbie Robson, trumpet; Joe Auckland, trumpet; Jim Rattigan, French horn; Mark Nightingale, trombone; Sarah Williams, bass trombone, tuba; Michael Janisch, double bass; and Jeff Williams drums. Gibbs says: “The first Gil Evans music I ever heard was the Gil Evans + Ten album – that was in the late-1950s – and it’s still reverberating. This selection includes adaptations of some favourite Gil arrangements, and a few of my own explorations.”
The cover of Mike Gibbs + 12 Play Gil Evans above
Updated (4.40pm) with corrected headline, and Here’s A Song For You additional info. (Thanks to Jon Turney.)