AOTW: Gil Evans - Where Flamingos Fly (CD 831)

[Captain Bacardi]

Gil Evans
WHERE FLAMINGOS FLY
A&M CD 0831

Released 1989

Format: CD/Cassette
(Originally released on vinyl on the Artists House label 1981)

Produced by John Simon

Songs:

• 1. Zee Zee (Gil Evans) 10:58
  2. Nana (Moacir Santos/Mario Telles/Yanna Coti) 4:42
  3. Love Your Love (Billy Harper) 2:13
  4. Jelly Rolls* (Gil Evans) 5:32
  5. Where Flamingos Fly (John Benson Brooks/Elthea Peale/Harold Courlander) 5:12
  6. El Matador (Kenny Dorham) 17:30
  
  * - On the Artists House release "Jelly Rolls" was mistitled "Hotel Me".

Musicians:
TRACKS 1 & 6:
Billy Harper - Tenor Sax
Howard Johnson - Baritone Sax, Tuba (1)
John Coles - Trumpet
Harry Lookofsky - Tenor Violin
Joe Beck - Guitar, Mandolin (6)
Herb Bushler - Electric Bass
Don Preston - Synthesizer
Lenny White - Drums
Sue Evans - Percussion, Marimba (1)
Airto Moreira - Vocal, Percussion (6)
Flora Purim - Vocal, Percussion (6)
Gil Evans - Electric Piano, Tack Piano (6)

ALL OTHER TRACKS:
Billy Harper - Tenor Saxophone, Chimes (3)
Howard Johnson - Baritone Saxophone, Flugelhorn (5)
Trevor Koehler - Soprano and Baritone Saxophone
Stan Shafran - Trumpet
John Coles - Trumpet
Hannibal Peterson - Trombone
Jimmy Knepper - Trombone
Bruce Johnson - Guitar
Richard Davis - Acoustic Bass
Bill Quinze - Electric Bass
Phil Davis - Synthesizer
Don Preston - Synthesizer
Bruce Ditmas - Drums
Sue Evans - Percussion (2)
Airto Moreira - Percussion (2)
Flora Purim - Percussion (2)
Gil Evans - Piano, Electric Piano (4)

Recorded in New York City, 1971
Mixed by John Snyder and Gil Evans at Blank Tapes Recording Studio, New York, 1981
Digitally mastered by John Snyder and Rudy Van Gelder at Van Gelder Recording Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, January 1989

Art Direction: Chuck Beeson
Design: Philip Shima
Photography: Carol Friedman

Liner notes by Gil Evans


Capt. Bacardi

 

[LPJim]

This is among my favorite of the A&M Jazz series CDs, especially the atmospheric and brooding opening cut "Zee Zee." Note that "Nana" also was recorded by Bossa Rio on SP 4191 .
The lengthy track "El Matador" and its many changes reminds me of "El Morro" from Chet Baker's YOU CAN'T GO HOME AGAIN.
While this one's been out of print a long time it does turn up among the cutouts/trade-ins from time to time.
JB

 

[Captain Bacardi]

This is a real heavy album, but there's also some cool hipness to it as well. "Zee Zee" is quite a laid-back blues, with some searing tenor work from Billy Harper. Harper also shines on the lush title tune. "Jelly Rolls" is about the only true big band swinger, and a welcome one. My favorite tuba player, Howard Johnson, gets some rare recording time on a flugelhorn on "Where Flamingos Fly". The song "El Matador" just reminds me of an early Dirty Harry movie music. This is one of those songs where everybody solos. Fortunately, the rhythm section keeps it going.

I've always enjoyed Gil Evans' work with Miles Davis, especially Sketches Of Spain and Porgy & Bess. While this album isn't up to those classic standards, it's not too far behind.




Capt. Bacardi