Bill Evans & The Vansband All Stars

Bill Evans - The Complete Village Vanguard Recordings, 1961 (2005) {3CD Box Set 20bit K2 3RCD-4443-2}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 0.97 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 360 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 95 Mb | 5% repair rar | 20-bit remaster
© 1961, 2005 Concord / Riverside | 3RCD-4443-2
Jazz / Post Bop / Modal Music / Piano

On June 25th, 1961, Bill Evans and his trio made jazz history over the course of five sets at the Village Vanguard. Selections from those performances were released on two full-length LPs, WALTZ FOR DEBBY and Sunday AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD, both of which went on to become landmark jazz albums from the era. The three-disc COMPLETE VILLAGE VANGUARD RECORDINGS provides a valuable service by presenting all five sets in their complete and original sequence, with crisp remastered sound, a previously unissued take (Scott LaFaro's "Gloria's Step"), and snippets of on-stage patter.

Morning Glory: The 1973 Concert at the Teatro Gran Rex, Buenos Aires is the first official release of pianist Bill Evans with Eddie Gomez and Marty Morell captured live at the Teatro Gran Rex in Buenos Aires, Argentina on June 24, 1973.

Mixing laid-back melodies with go-for-broke jams with some of the greatest names in modern instrumental music, saxophonist Bill Evans lives in the middle ground between smooth jazz and what could easily be termed of as contemporary jazz fusion. On his Zebra Records debut, Touch, the distinction is based on each song's sense of adventure. "In Your Heart," for instance, is the kind of right in the pocket, sweet little slice of passion that radio drools over, made unique (as Evans does on all tunes) by switching off from the high tones of the soprano with the darker shades of tenor to better discuss the emotional complexities of love. Likewise there's the cool, urban-flavored "Remember," which features subtle vocal chanting floating off in the distance. But then there's the edgier side of Evans intertwining his soprano with Lew Soloff's staccato trumpet energy on the brisk blues of "Dixie Hop," and kicking up all sorts of dust on the last two tunes, "Back to the Walls" and the ten-minute "Country Mile."

Bill Evans - The Solo Sessions, Volume 2 (1963) {Milestone MCD-9195-2 rel 1992}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 183 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 101 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 16 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1963, 1989 Milestone Records / Fantasy | MCD-9195-2
Jazz / Post Bop / Modal Music / Piano

This CD's booklet liner notes written by Gene Lees tell as much – if not more – of the story about the circumstances surrounding this session as the music itself. Though in retrospect Lees hears added value in these solo piano works from Bill Evans, there is a palpable and recognizable deterioration in the great pianist's ability to perform at his optimal genius level. In trouble with heroin addiction during 1963 when these tracks were documented, Evans both struggles and prevails through his drug-induced haze to produce an effort that is at many times expectedly brilliant – the prerequisite and operative word being effort.

Newly discovered live performance by Bill Evans Trio, featuring Eddie G¢mez - bass & Eliot Zigmund - drums. The previously unreleased concert took place on June 20, 1975, at Oil Can Harry's, Vancouver, BC. Captured for radio host Gary Barclay, it was aired on his popular CHQM jazz show. For nearly half a century, the tapes lay forgotten - until now. Thanks to audio restoration by Plangent Processes & mastering by Paul Blakemore, it sounds just as fresh today as it did in 1975.