Gil Evans set up shop in his small New York apartment above a Chinese laundry acting as an advisor to a group of jazz musicians. Evans was already well-known as an adventurous arranger who took inspiration from classical composers of the day. Miles Davis was trying to separate himself from the bebop club scene, of which he was a part in Charlie Parker's groups. In 1947 Davis and Evans organized a group of musicians into a working nonet and began to rehearse some new material. The musicians that were in the group included: Miles Davis (trumpet), Mike Zwerin (trombone), Bill Barber (tuba), Junior Collins (French horn), Gerry Mulligan (baritone saxophone), Lee Konitz (alto saxophone), John Lewis (piano), Al McKibbon (bass), and Max Roach (drums). The emphasis of this group was the arrangements and the re-definition of the current jazz scene. They invented what came to be known as the 'cool school.' |
