The Grammy Award-nominated Gil Evans Project returns for the week to Birdland to celebrate the release of their new album, Shades of Sound. Led by Grammy Award-winning producer Ryan Truesdell, this outstanding ensemble of New York City’s finest musicians will present rarely performed music written by legendary composer/arranger, Gil Evans from the 1940s-1960s. This week, the band will perform tracks from their new album as well as music from the following periods/albums:  Tues & Wed, 5/13-14: Out of the Cool Thurs, 5/15: Shades of Sound album pre-release celebration Fri & Sat, 5/16-17: Claude Thornhill Orchestra + Vocal Quartet   PERSONNEL   Ryan Truesdell, director   Woodwinds Steve Wilson, Dave Pietro, Donny McCaslin (5/15-17), Tom Christensen, Alden Banta, Steve Kenyon (5/16-17)   French Horns Dan Salera (5/15-17), Eric Davis (5/15-17)   Trumpets Augie Haas, Riley Mulherkar, Scott Wendholt (5/15-17), Nadje Noordhuis (5/16-17)   Trombones Ryan Keberle (5/13-15), Andy Clausen (5/16-17), Nick Finzer, George Flynn (bass trombone)   Tuba Marcus Rojas (5/13-15)   Rhythm Gary Versace (piano), Jay Anderson (bass), Adam Cruz (drums), Mike Truesdell (percussion, 5/13-14)   Vocals Wendy Gilles (5/15-17), Tomas Cruz (5/16-17), Nick Prior (5/16-17), Patrick Laslie (5/16-17) Photo by Marc Santos