And On the Third Day is a Michael Gibbs composition that first appeared on his 1970 debut album Michael Gibbs (Deram). The piece sits at the crossroads of British Invasion rock-infused big band and the Ellington/Mingus big band tradition, showcasing Gibbs’s expansive melodic imagination. The original recording features hot trombone from Chris Pyne, incandescent baritone from John Surman, and a strong, period-accurate beat from John Marshall. In 2017 Cuong Vu 4-Tet performed the tune on Ballet: the Music of Michael Gibbs (Rare Noise), demonstrating its enduring relevance in a modern jazz setting. The track is often described as a shambling anthem with a slow, spiritual gravitas, blending rock textures with large ensemble jazz. A notable anecdote from Ethan Iverson notes that the Real Book chart for And On the Third Day needed to be re-transcribed, underscoring the piece’s intricate, distinctive header in jazz history.
