Bill Evans (Piano): At The Montreux Jazz Festival (200g) (Limited Edition) (45 RPM) 2-LP

Label: Acoustic Sounds, 1968

Bill's performance was one of the best I've ever heard from him. He and Eddie Gomez played with more aggressive verve than ever before; more exuberance, more joy. The brooding, introspective side of Bill's music is well represented on the records. The lighter side has been too little heard, but it's here in this album.

Bill Evans (p); Eddie Gomez (b); Jack DeJohnette (dr)

As has been mentioned many times elsewhere, this album holds a unique place in the Bill Evans discography. It is the only album to document drummer Jack deJohnette's far too brief stay with the trio. The trio's performance on this album earned them the 1969 Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Album.

When this set was recorded at Montreux on June 15, 1968, Eddie Gomez and Evans had been playing together for two years. Gomez had a different virtuosity than Scott LaFaro in Evans' classic trio five years earlier, but he was clearly the best bassist Evans had worked with since LaFaro's tragic death. The groove between the two was profound yet comfortable, so comfortable that Evans did something in this set that he had never done before, at least on a recording: he put Gomez in the foreground for an entire piece, the nearly seven-minute "Embraceable You."

As Gene Lees' liner notes describe, Evan's performance at the prestigious jazz festival at the Montreux Casino nightclub, one of Switzerland's hottest resorts, was one of his best. He and Gomez played with more exuberance, more joie de vivre and more drive. Evans' brooding, introspective musical side has long been represented on records; the upbeat side has been too little heard, but it's here on this album.

At the end of each number, the audience exploded with applause so tumultuous and extended that it had to be heavily edited for the album. Enjoy this sparkling Bill Evans piano performance, made even more delightful by Bernie Grundman's professional mastering from the original analog tape. For this edition, there can only be the best vinyl pressing - a 200 gram super quiet, fine sounding record from Quality Record Pressings, makers of some of the best sounding LPs in the world. From Stoughton Printing comes the traditional style cover with the artwork faithfully reproduced from the original. How can you make it any better? Well, we cut this issue at 45rpm! The totally silent double LP, with the music split across four sides of the vinyl, reduces distortion and high frequency loss as your stereo pickup can read the wider grooves more accurately.

Top notch and of the highest caliber, this album will be an excellent addition to your record collection.

Tracklisting

1 One For Helen
2 A Sleeping Bee
3 Mother Of Earl
4 Nardis

1 I Loves You Porgy
2 The Touch Of Your Lips
3 Embraceable You
4 Someday My Prince Will Come
5 Walkin' Up