TAS Rated 4/5 Music, 4.5/5 Sonics in the April 2011 Issue of The Absolute Sound!
Featured in Michael Fremer's Heavy Rotation in the March 2011 Issue of Stereophile!
Its hard to believe, but the highly acclaimed, classically trained Bill Evans had to wait until February 1966 before he could give a concert in New York. The citys Town Hall proffered an auspicious venue for the Trio after performing in clubs with their frequently bad conditions. Bill Evans also presents himself as a soloist, playing his own composition, which is dedicated to his father. The number is Ravel-like at the beginning, has two jazz improvisations in the middle section, and an almost epic finale a construction he liked to employ not only in many of his works but also in his interpretation of standard numbers.
The 1500-strong audience at the concert is remarkably hushed, and this is highly beneficial for the pensive, intuitive style of the pianist, for now he can concentrate on making contact with the bass-player Chuck Israels and the percussionist Arnold Wise. It is obvious that both artists feel at home with Bill Evanss concept of equal status, which he continued to develop ever since the formation of his first Trio in 1958.
The four standards are mostly in a moderate tempo and do not feature many changes of mood. You have to listen very carefully to the harmonic sequences and interplay if you want to discover the beauty of the improvisations and the shimmering impressionism of the Trios style. But it is certainly worth ones while! This pearl in the creative life of the musician Bill Evans and his Piano Trio is a real milestone recording; the re-release spans an arc to the living pianists of today.
"Four standards demonstrate Evan's mastery of harmonic and melodic variation, as well as the ability of bassist Israels and drummer Wise to underpin things beautifully. But the crowning accomplishment is the lengthy, unaccompanied "Solo-In Memory of His Father, Harry L. Evans," a performance that shows how gutsy this master of impressionism could be." - Duck Baker, The Absolute Sound Magazine, April 2011, Issue 212
Features:
180g Virgin Vinyl
High Quality Pressing
Pure Analogue Audiophile Mastering
Gatefold Sleeve
Musicians:
Bill Evans, piano
Chuck Israels, bass
Arnold Wise, drums
Selections:
1. I Should Care
2. Spring Is Here
3. Who Can I Turn To
4. Make Someone Happy
5. Solo (In Memory of His Father, Harry L. Evans, 1891-1966)
6. Prologue
7. Improvisation on Two Themes
8. Story Line
9. Turn Out The Stars
10. Epilogue
Recorded live on February 1966 at Town Hall, New York City.
Featured in Michael Fremer's Heavy Rotation in the March 2011 Issue of Stereophile!
Its hard to believe, but the highly acclaimed, classically trained Bill Evans had to wait until February 1966 before he could give a concert in New York. The citys Town Hall proffered an auspicious venue for the Trio after performing in clubs with their frequently bad conditions. Bill Evans also presents himself as a soloist, playing his own composition, which is dedicated to his father. The number is Ravel-like at the beginning, has two jazz improvisations in the middle section, and an almost epic finale a construction he liked to employ not only in many of his works but also in his interpretation of standard numbers.
The 1500-strong audience at the concert is remarkably hushed, and this is highly beneficial for the pensive, intuitive style of the pianist, for now he can concentrate on making contact with the bass-player Chuck Israels and the percussionist Arnold Wise. It is obvious that both artists feel at home with Bill Evanss concept of equal status, which he continued to develop ever since the formation of his first Trio in 1958.
The four standards are mostly in a moderate tempo and do not feature many changes of mood. You have to listen very carefully to the harmonic sequences and interplay if you want to discover the beauty of the improvisations and the shimmering impressionism of the Trios style. But it is certainly worth ones while! This pearl in the creative life of the musician Bill Evans and his Piano Trio is a real milestone recording; the re-release spans an arc to the living pianists of today.
"Four standards demonstrate Evan's mastery of harmonic and melodic variation, as well as the ability of bassist Israels and drummer Wise to underpin things beautifully. But the crowning accomplishment is the lengthy, unaccompanied "Solo-In Memory of His Father, Harry L. Evans," a performance that shows how gutsy this master of impressionism could be." - Duck Baker, The Absolute Sound Magazine, April 2011, Issue 212
Features:
180g Virgin Vinyl
High Quality Pressing
Pure Analogue Audiophile Mastering
Gatefold Sleeve
Musicians:
Bill Evans, piano
Chuck Israels, bass
Arnold Wise, drums
Selections:
1. I Should Care
2. Spring Is Here
3. Who Can I Turn To
4. Make Someone Happy
5. Solo (In Memory of His Father, Harry L. Evans, 1891-1966)
6. Prologue
7. Improvisation on Two Themes
8. Story Line
9. Turn Out The Stars
10. Epilogue
Recorded live on February 1966 at Town Hall, New York City.
