Bill Evans Trio : Nardis video
This is a seminal jazz record; the definitive Evans record to own and certainly one of the most influential jazz records of all time. To start with, this is the apex of what a jazz trio can accomplish. The centerpiece is obviously Evans’ piano, and while one never forgets this, the bass and drums, have grand contributions as well. The breathless and gutsy “Israel” has the bite of a bebop song, but none of the pretentious flap doodle that might sink a Coltrane or Miles Davis recording.
“Beautiful Love” also has great gusto and a bounciness to it that will keep your foot in motion. The upright bass solo on this track is terrific. “Elsa” is soulful and moody. “Nardis” is melodic and memorable. Evans always has perfect tonal contral and plays with class and flair. Hugely influential on every jazz pianist worth a bean, Bill Evans is in perfect form on “Explorations” and sets the bar for the jazz trio.
This stuff is great, woke up to Israel one morning on 88.3, good stuff, got to appreciate jazz in order to be able to listen to it
Bill Evans trio : Waltz for Debby
This is a fine collection from a dynamic ensemble at the top of their game. The music is soft and subtle, the very definition of cool jazz at its best, but it holds a deeply nuanced sophistication that puts it far beyond the typical dinner-jazz fare and makes it essential listening for any jazz aficionado.
The chemistry between the three players is superb, effortlessly playing off each others’ strengths without ever sticking out, and the choice of tunes (originals and covers alike) shows off their melodic instincts as well as their improvisational skills. They never “solo” in the traditional take-eight-bars sense, but instead continually feed off the core of the music and add flawless touches and focused detours at all the right moments. Truly excellent music.
This is just a classic already, next to Everyone Digs Bill Evans. If you are not familiar with any of this, listen to My Foolish Heart live on youtube, and I think that will be enough evidence for you to purchase this. Subtle, understated, yet — comprehensive, resolute — unmistakably Bill Evans at his very finest.
This has been my favorite Bill Evans recording for years and years. I continue to put it on when I am surfing the web, reading, or just pondering life’s challenges. This IS music, not just jazz. This album was recorded in 1961,1 believe. The reissue here is from 1987.
The Best of Bill Evans : piano album
The Last Waltz isn’t a song, it’s an 8-CD set documenting the last 9 performances of Bill Evans’ life, in a trio with Marc Johnson on bass and Joe Labarbera on drums. It was recorded at the Keystone Korner in San Francisco at the end of August and beginning of September 1980, and only released in 2000.
It’s about 8 hours of music, and there’s a lot of duplication of titles from night to night, although fans are fascinated by the differences in each performance on successive nights. Evans died only a week later. A landmark of jazz, although not the first thing that newcomers to Evans would want.
This collection of live recordings shows us that no American jazz pianist will ever be as, shall I say, artful as Mr. Bill Evans. Hats off.
I noticed they mentioned this song in his biographical review, but they don’t offer this song that was recorded a few weeks before his death
