Paris Blues (album)

This article is about the album by Gil Evans and Steve Lacy. For other uses, see Paris Blues (disambiguation).

Paris Blues is an album of duets by pianist Gil Evans and saxophonist Steve Lacy recorded in Paris in 1987 and released on the French Owl label. The album was Evans' final studio recording before his death in 1988. The album was released in the US on Sunnyside Records in 2003.

Paris Blues
Studio album by Gil Evans and Steve Lacy
Released	1988
Recorded	November 30 & December 1, 1987
Studio	Family Sound Studio, Paris
Genre	Jazz
Length	59:30
Label	Owl (OWL 049 CD)
Producer	François Lemaire & Jean-Jacques Pussiau
Gil Evans chronology
Bud and Bird (1987) Paris Blues (1988) Rhythm A Ning (1988)
Steve Lacy chronology
The Window (1988) Paris Blues (1988) The Door (1989)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
The Penguin Guide to Jazz

The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 1½ stars stating "In truth, Evans's playing here is generally little more than melody statements and comping behind Lacy and, although the soprano is in top form, little of significance occurs... of greater interest from a historical standpoint than musical". The Penguin Guide to Jazz observed "it's scarcely a momentous occasion, musically speaking, for either man... Interesting to hear Lacy at work on his music, but in the end the results are merely light and agreeable".

Track listing

1. "Reincarnation of a Lovebird" (Charles Mingus) – 7:05
2. "Paris Blues" (Duke Ellington) – 5:17
3. "Esteem" (Steve Lacy) – 9:07
4. "Orange Was the Color of Her Dress Then Blue Silk" (Mingus) – 14:42
5. "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (Mingus) – 8:42
6. "Jelly Roll" (Gil Evans) – 5:43 (bonus track on CD)
7. "Esteem" (Lacy) – 8:54 (bonus track on CD)

Personnel

• Gil Evans – piano, electric piano
• Steve Lacy – soprano saxophone