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Bill Evans & Don Elliott: Tenderly
by Derek Taylor
Subtitled ‘An Informal Session’ this mid-1950s meeting between Evans and Elliott transpired in the latter’s home studio. Never intended for release, listeners expecting a tightly cropped and polished studio date are likely to be disappointed. Fortunately Fantasy producer Eric Miller opted to leave those extraneous noises that did not directly compromise the music in the mix. The result is voyeuristic snapshot of two musicians playing purely for their own enjoyment, working out tunes on the spot and tinkering expressively with ...
Continue ReadingEddie Costa: Guys and Dolls Love Jazz
by Craig Jolley
In retrospect it's hard to see how or why this record was made in the days before CD's as calling cards. Eddie Costa had little name recognition, and what fame he enjoyed was on piano, his primary instrument. The material--cute boy-meets-girl tunes written in subservience to 1950's-clever lyrics--does not lend itself to jazz interpretation. [A couple of the songs have since become standards after being overhauled by Miles Davis and Oscar Peterson.] Costa as a sometime studio musician probably had ...
Continue ReadingBill Evans Trio: The Last Waltz (The Final Recordings Live at Keystone Korner September 1980)
by Glenn Astarita
Fans of the late great pianist Bill Evans should be overjoyed with the issuance of this nicely packaged eight CD boxed set that represents sixty-five previously unreleased tracks recorded live at San Francisco’s “Keystone Korner”, September, 1980. This attractive compilation is additionally enhanced by Derk Richardson’s wonderfully written and informative liner notes, as the author elaborates on Evans’ previous accomplishments and the sad events leading to the artist’s death which occurred shortly afterwards.The Last Waltz features Evans along ...
Continue ReadingBill Evans Trio: The Last Waltz
by Mark Corroto
Bill Evans died, at the age of 51, on Sept 15, 1980. In what has been described by friends and family as “slow suicide," he finally succumbed to the effects of the years of substance abuse. Like Charlie Parker before him the world was alternatively too beautiful and too ugly to endure. For fans of Bill Evans, like those of Bird, the Grateful Dead and today's Phish, his live performances have been extensively bootlegged, traded and revered. The Last Waltz ...
Continue ReadingBill Evans: Touch
by Dave Hughes
Saxophonist Bill Evans' new CDTouchsuccessfully manages to create a contemporary sounding program without falling victim to formula or cliche. All of the songs are Evans originals, and they speak well of his talents as a composer; they are more intricate than standard radio fare yet still approachable, resulting in sort of a "thinking person's contemporary jazz." While he's credited as playing both tenor and soprano saxophones on almost all selections, one or the other predominates on each cut. ...
Continue ReadingBill Evans: Touch
by Paula Edelstein
Touch, produced by veteran saxophonist-composer Bill Evans for his debut on Zebra Records is one of compositional integrity that continues to explore the melodic themes of his previous release, Starfish & The Moon. His 11th as a leader, Touch exemplifies the personality and depth of Bill Evans’ musicianship on tunes ranging from smooth to straight ahead, charged with soaring soprano and robust tenor solos. The serenely lyrical “In Your Heart” imprints his smooth sax deep within the soul, leaving the ...
Continue ReadingBill Evans: Touch
by Ed Kopp
Whenever I hear a soprano saxophone played over a pre-programmed beat my attention inevitably wavers, even if the music it is somewhat challenging. I call this condition the Kenny G Syndrome.While listening to Touch I really had to fight through the Kenny G Syndrome on a couple of tracks, but in time I warmed up to most of these 11 tunes.To be fair, Bill Evans is no Kenny G. He's a veteran solo artist with a ...
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