The Best of Miles Davis & Gil Evans

"Evans and his fellow restless innovator, baritone saxophonist/arranger Gerry Mulligan, began planning a new kind of rehearsal band that would capture the sound of the Thornhill band with only nine instruments. … Davis became this nonet's leader, catalyst, and principal soloist. … The resultant 12 sides became renowned as the Birth of the Cool recordings. … But it wasn't until 1957 that Davis and Evans were given an opportunity to expand upon the Birth of the Cool innovations. … The album, Miles Ahead, was a breakthrough for both Davis and Evans. Never before had Davis' lyricism received such an apt showcase. … Included on this disc are five highlights from Porgy and Bess [1958]. The most unusual piece is 'Gone,' a Gil Evans original that is his improvisation on the spiritual 'Gone, Gone, Gone.' … Davis and Evans in 1959 and '60 undertook a third project, Sketches of Spain. Its centerpiece was the adagio movement of Joaquin Rodrigo's 'Concierto de Aranjuez' …" (program notes by Bill Kirchner).

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