| The Gary McFarland Orchestra | ||||
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| Studio album by Gary McFarland with guest soloist Bill Evans | ||||
| Released | 1963 | |||
| Recorded | January 24, 1963 | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Label | Verve | |||
| Producer | Creed Taylor | |||
| Gary McFarland chronology | ||||
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| Bill Evans chronology | ||||
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The Gary McFarland Orchestra is an album by composer, conductor, and vibraphonist Gary McFarland with an orchestra featuring guest soloist jazz pianist Bill Evans recorded in early 1963 for Verve.[1]
Evans biographer Peter Pettinger notes that "McFarland had met Evans when a student at Lenox [Music Inn] in 1959. While planning an album of his own compositions, he ran into the pianist again and plucked up the courage to invite him onto it."[2] McFarland said, "I built the album around Bill—around everything he is, his melodic gift, his harmonic conceptions, his ... well, his magic. That's what it really is. Magic. ... For my taste, he's the perfect pianist. He does everything perfectly."[3]
The album consists of six original compositions by McFarland scored for an 11-piece ensemble that includes two violas and two cellos along with highly notable jazz performers such as guitarist Jim Hall, bassist Richard Davis, and Phil Woods on clarinet. Evans remained "a faithful admirer" of McFarland after this project and later added his composition "Gary's Theme" to his repertoire,[4] recording it on the album You Must Believe in Spring.
- ^ Bill Evans discography accessed 15 June 2024.
- ^ Pettinger, Peter, Bill Evans: How My Heart Sings, Yale University Press (1998), p. 142.
- ^ Lees, Gene, original liner notes, The Gary McFarland Orchestra, Phono 870256 (2016), p. 9.
- ^ Clay, Stewart, CD reissue liner notes, The Gary McFarland Orchestra, Phono 870256 (2016), p. 5.