This radio broadcast was recorded from a December 1972 return to Paris (following Evans' appearance with Phil Woods on the same stage, which apparently wasn't recorded). It has the most adventuresome playing of the three Paris CDs issued by France's Concert, though there are no surprises among the songs played during this 70-plus-minute concert. All three members of the group are at the top of their form, with the simmering dramatic journey through a lengthy "Nardis" and the spirited encore of "Waltz for Debby" standing out as highlights. Probably one of the better examples of live dates by this edition of the Bill Evans Trio, this volume, like the previous two, is well worth acquiring.
This radio broadcast was recorded from a December 1972 return to Paris (following Evans' appearance with Phil Woods on the same stage, which apparently wasn't recorded). It has the most adventuresome playing of the three Paris CDs issued by France's Concert, though there are no surprises among the songs played during this 70-plus-minute concert. All three members of the group are at the top of their form, with the simmering dramatic journey through a lengthy "Nardis" and the spirited encore of "Waltz for Debby" standing out as highlights. Probably one of the better examples of live dates by this edition of the Bill Evans Trio, this volume, like the previous two, is well worth acquiring.
While its sheer bulk negates its interest to a general audience, The Complete Bill Evans on Verve is an essential library piece for any serious jazz fan or historian. Spanning 18 CDs, 269 tracks and 21 hours, the box set includes all of Evans' recordings for the label between 1962 and 1969, including 19 albums, two previously unreleased albums and 98 previously unreleased tracks. During these years, the pianist made some of his greatest music, including his legendary Village Vanguard sessions, and the set charts all of his changes, as he plays with his trio and as a solo artist, as well as a rare session with a rhythm quartet and strings. While the set itself could be a little more user-friendly – it's encased in a steel box, with a 160-page booklet and an 18-disc fanpack on separate shelves – the music itself is nearly flawless and nearly essential for most serious jazz fans.
This release presents, in chronological order, all surviving complete performances from the legendary 1961 Village Vanguard sets by the Bill Evans Trio. Two classic albums were culled from these sets: Sunday at the Village Vanguard (Riverside RLP976) and Waltz for Debby (Riverside RLP999). It would be the last recording by this formation of the group, with Scott LaFaro on bass, and Paul Motian on drums, as LaFaro died ten days later in a car crash, 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.
While its sheer bulk negates its interest to a general audience, The Complete Bill Evans on Verve is an essential library piece for any serious jazz fan or historian. Spanning 18 CDs, 269 tracks and 21 hours, the box set includes all of Evans' recordings for the label between 1962 and 1969, including 19 albums, two previously unreleased albums and 98 previously unreleased tracks. During these years, the pianist made some of his greatest music, including his legendary Village Vanguard sessions, and the set charts all of his changes, as he plays with his trio and as a solo artist, as well as a rare session with a rhythm quartet and strings. While the set itself could be a little more user-friendly – it's encased in a steel box, with a 160-page booklet and an 18-disc fanpack on separate shelves – the music itself is nearly flawless and nearly essential for most serious jazz fans.