Miles Davis: Summertime

This is a straightforward rendition of the Gershwin classic, with Miles playing the melody, then improvising against a simple background. The background repeats and is heard in different instrumental groups upon each repeat. Gil Evans was a master of orchestral color, and even these simple instrumental groupings are interesting because he shifts them unobtrusively. While the casual listener may not hear anything very different from chorus to chorus orchestrally, the attentive listener will appreciate the subtle changes in sonic tone. This same basic setting was later reused for one of the last dates Evans recorded, 1987's Collaboration with singer Helen Merrill.