Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Bill Evans: California Here I Come

Bill Evans: California Here I Come

By Ollie Bivens
March 3, 2005
Sign in to view read count

Most piano-led jazz trios consist of a bassist and drummer providing rhythmic backing for the leader. With the various trios fronted by Bill Evans, a three way musical conversation occurred among equals. Recorded in '67 and initially issued as a two-LP set in '82, and now reissued on a single CD of 71 minutes, California Here I Come is an example of that dialogue. Not nearly as influential as his groundbreaking early '60s trio with Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian, this group with bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Philly Joe Jones is nonetheless illustrative of the flowing grace of one of the most influential pianists in jazz.

A normally quiet person, Evans communicated most effectively through the piano. He sings with his fingers as he beckons the melodies from "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" and renders a light as a feather version of "Alfie," one of the earliest piano versions of that song (the original being a big pop hit for Dionne Warwick from the '66 movie). Often criticized for not swinging enough, hard bop drummer Jones pushes the pianist to play more percussively on the trio's frisky take of "In a Sentimental Mood" and "On Green Dolphin Street." One of the best at playing jazz waltzes, Evans joins bassist Gomez to convey a sense of joy on the pianist's "G Waltz."

All the tunes on California Here I Come are short, but the musicians squeeze as much wondrous music as they can into four and five-minute time spans. With its lyricism and gentle power, this record illustrates why Evans still continues to casts a musical spell, 36 years after this performance and 24 years after his untimely death.

Track Listing

California Here I Come/ Polka Dots and Moonbeams/ Turn Out the Stars/ Stella by Starlight/ You're Gonna Hear from Me/ In a Sentimental Mood/ G Waltz/ Green Dolphin Street/ Gone With the Wind/ If You Could See Me Now/ Alfie/ Very Early/ 'Round Midnight/ Emily/ Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams

Personnel

Bill Evans

piano

Bill Evans- piano; Eddie Gomez- bass; Philly Joe Jones- drums

Album information

Title: California Here I Come | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: Verve Music Group

< Previous
Like Minds

Next >
Groove Station

Comments

About Bill Evans

Instrument: Piano

Tags

For the Love of Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help

To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.