Bill Evans Live at Art D'lugoff's Top Of The Gate

Bill Evans - Live In Switzerland 1975 (2005) {Gambit Records 69232}
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© 1975, 2005 Gambit Records | 69232
Jazz / Post Bop / Modal Music / Piano

This LP comes from a live 1975 concert by the Bill Evans Trio, which was broadcast by Radio Suisse in Switzerland. The pianist is in superb form, joined by longtime bassist Eddie Gomez and newcomer Eliot Zigmund on drums. The sound is excellent, without the annoying announcers or distortion, so this release could have very well been produced from the master tape itself. The set is wide-ranging, including both recent and older compositions by Evans, "Gloria's Step" (the best-known work by former Evans sideman Scott LaFaro, who died far too young), along with standards like a buoyant "My Romance." The leader's treatment of his ballad "Turn Out the Stars" is rather upbeat, while his somewhat avant-garde composition "T.T.T.T." (also known as "Twelve Tone Tune Two") is a modern masterpiece. Perhaps the greatest surprise was Evans' inventive treatment of pop singer Bobbie Gentry's "Morning Glory."

Bill Evans - Live In Hilversum 1969 (2011) {Jazz Traffic 333211}
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© 1969, 2011 Jazz Traffic | 333211
Jazz / Post Bop / Modal Music / Piano

An unreleased live recording by Bill Evans Trio, including Eddie Gomez and Marty Morell, in Hilversam, the Netherlands in 1969. Evans' recordings of "You're Gonna Hear From Me" and "My Funny Valentine" are rare. Also, pay attention to the excellent performance of "Round Midnight" here. (From the new album guide). The rare recording of My Funny Valentine is excellent! It's my favorite take. It's often performed in slow ballads, but the live recording in Holland 1969 is up-tempo. It's a good interaction with Gomez.

Bill Evans - Sunday At The Village Vanguard (1961) {Riverside Japan, VDJ-1519, Early Press}
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© 1961, 1985 Riverside / Victor Japan | VDJ-1519
Jazz / Modal Music / Post Bop / Piano

This release presents music from the legendary 1961 Village Vanguard sets by the Bill Evans Trio. It would mark the last recording by the formation of the group with Scott LaFaro on bass, and Paul Motian on drums, as LaFaro died ten days later on July 6, 1961, at the age of 25. Evans, who loved LaFaro’s playing, would take a long hiatus before forming a new trio.

The second half of the February, 1972 Paris concert is much more aggressive than the first. Starting with Evans' challenging "Twelve Tone Tune," the trio (with Eddie Gomez and Marty Morell) plays a much more varied set that better demonstrated their abilities. Also excellent are the especially subdued arrangement of Denny Zeitlin's "Quiet Now" (a favorite of Evans throughout his career) and Evans' "Very Early," which is a great feature for Eddie Gomez. The bittersweet interpretation of another original, "Time Remembered," is a prime example of why Bill Evans was widely admired, both as a composer and as a pianist.

Bill Evans - Live In Paris, 1972 Vol. 2 (1988) {Esoldun France FCD 114}
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© 1972, 1988 Esoldun / France's Concert | FCD 114
Jazz / Cool / Modal Music / Piano

The second half of the February, 1972 Paris concert is much more aggressive than the first. Starting with Evans' challenging "Twelve Tone Tune," the trio (with Eddie Gomez and Marty Morell) plays a much more varied set that better demonstrated their abilities. Also excellent are the especially subdued arrangement of Denny Zeitlin's "Quiet Now" (a favorite of Evans throughout his career) and Evans' "Very Early," which is a great feature for Eddie Gomez. The bittersweet interpretation of another original, "Time Remembered," is a prime example of why Bill Evans was widely admired, both as a composer and as a pianist.