Bill Evans - Complete On Verve [18 CD, 1993]

The 18 CDs in this exhaustive set provide a comprehensive picture of Bill Evans from 1962 to 1969, a period when the pianist was both consolidating his fame and sometimes taking his music into untested waters, from unaccompanied piano to symphony orchestra. His work with multitracked solo piano, originally released as Conversations with Myself and the later Further Conversations with Myself, was the most remarkable new format for his introspective music. It gave Evans a way to be all the pianists he could be at once--combining densely chordal, harmonically oblique parts with surprising, rhythmic punctuation and darting, exploratory runs. Two dates with drummer Shelly Manne, in 1962 and 1966, reveal the stimulus Evans could find in a new playing relationship, as does the final disc with flutist Jeremy Steig. Evans also revisited significant earlier musical relationships. The Village Vanguard recordings from 1967 reunite him with the great drummer Philly Joe Jones, whose extroverted, polyrhythmic approach always worked wonderfully with the pianist's more introverted style. Along with the virtuosic young bassist Eddie Gomez, they make up one of the most stimulating of the many trios that Evans led throughout his career. There's also a superb set of duets with guitarist Jim Hall, another of Evans's most closely attuned musical partners. Evans's recordings with a symphony orchestra are marred by conductor Claus Ogermann's ponderous arrangements, and some false starts and multiple takes will appeal only to completists, but there are tremendous musical riches here. The set is packaged in an unfinished metal box designed to rust into an original object, but Evans's own originality is apparent everywhere.

 


 

Bill Evans/Shelly Manne With Monty Budwig - Empathy

1-1 The Washington Twist 6:27
1-2 Danny Boy 3:42
1-3 Let's Go Back To The Waltz 4:30
1-4 With A Song In My Heart 9:11
1-5 Goodbye 5:10
1-6 I Believe In You 5:52

The Gary McFarland Orchestra With Special Guest Soloist Bill Evans

1-7 Reflections In The Park 3:44
1-8 Night Images 5:54
1-9 Tree Patterns 4:58
1-10 Peachtree 5:05
1-11 Misplaced Cowpoke 10:15
1-12 A Moment Alone 6:10

Conversations With Myself

2-1 'Round Midnight 6:29
2-2 How About You ? 2:46
2-3 Spartacus Love Theme 5:09
2-4 Blue Monk 4:32
2-5 Stelle By Starlight 4:51
2-6 Hey, There 4:26
2-7 N.Y.C.'s No Lark 5:30
2-8 Just You, Just Me 2:34
2-9 Bemsha Swing 2:54
2-10 A Sleepin' Bee 4:10

Trio 64

2-11 For Heaven's Sake 4:24
2-12 A Sleepin' Bee 5:29
2-13 Always (bd) 0:29
2-14 Always (ct) 3:53
2-15 Always (mst) 4:03
2-16 Everything Happens To Me 4:38
2-17 Dancing In The Dark 4:35
2-18 Santa Claus Is Coming To Town 4:24
3-1 I'll See You Again (bd) 0:51
3-2 I'll See You Again (ct) 4:28
3-3 I'll See You Again (mst) 3:56
3-4 Little Lulu (ct) 4:32
3-5 Little Lulu (ct) 5:00
3-6 Little Lulu (mst) 3:51
3-7 My Heart Stood Still (fs) (fs) (fs) 1:00
3-8 My Heart Stood Still (ct) 4:41

Stan Getz And Bill Evans - Previously Unreleased Recordings

3-9 My Heart Stood Still (rehearsal fragments) 0:49
3-10 My Heart Stood Still (ct) 9:04
3-11 My Heart Stood Still (fs) (bd) 3:23
3-12 My Heart Stood Still (mst) 8:37
3-13 Grandfather's Waltz (bd) 0:27
3-14 Grandfather's Waltz (mst) 6:29
3-15 Grandfather's Waltz (fs) 0:25
3-16 Grandfather's Waltz (ct) 5:37
3-17 Melinda (mst) 5:04
3-18 Dark Eyes 1:19
4-1 Funkarello (rehearsal) (fs) (fs) 1:10
4-2 Funkarello (mst) 6:40
4-3 But Beautiful (mst) 4:40
4-4 Theme For The Carpetbaggers (warmup) (fs) 1:37
4-5 Theme For The Carpetbaggers (ct) 1:57
4-6 Theme For The Carpetbaggers (ct) 1:46
4-7 Theme For The Carpetbaggers (bd) 0:40
4-8 Theme For The Carpetbaggers (mst) 1:51
4-9 Theme For The Carpetbaggers (ct) 1:49
4-10 Night And Day (bd) 2:07
4-11 Night And Day (ct) 6:37
4-12 Night And Day (mst) 6:44
4-13 Wnew (mst) 2:52

Bill Evans Trio Live

4-14 How Deep Is The Ocean ? 6:00
4-15 Love Is Here To Stay 5:05
4-16 Baubles, Bangles, And Beads 5:32
4-17 Vamp ("Peace Piece"), Spoken Introduction 1:32
4-18 Nardis 5:38
4-19 Time Remenbered 5:52
4-20 Someday My Prince Will Come 6:30
5-1 What Is The Thing Called Love 4:50
5-2 Stella By Starlight 6:20
5-3 'Round Midnight 6:08
5-4 Make Someone Happy 7:14
5-5 Spoken Introduction And Warmup 1:24
5-6 The Boy Next Door 5:51
5-7 Little Lulu 4:06
5-8 My Love Is A April Song 5:30
5-9 What Kind Of Fool Am I ? 8:31
5-10 What Is The Thing Called Love 4:54
5-11 The Touch Of Your Lips 6:21
5-12 Spoken Introduction And Warmup 0:58
5-13 The Boy Next Door 4:43
5-14 Time Remenbered 5:36
5-15 Stella By Starlight 6:22

Bill Evans Trio Live (Previously Unissued)

6-1 Deed I Do 6:31
6-2 Baubles, Bangles, And Beads 3:36
6-3 What Kind Of Fool Am I ? 5:30
6-4 Spoken Introduction And Warmup 1:09
6-5 Come Rain And Come Shine 5:35
6-6 How My Heart Sings 5:14
6-7 Alone Together 5:56
6-8 Israel 4:51
6-9 Spoken Introduction And Warmup 0:47
6-10 Alone Together 6:14
6-11 Make Someone Happy 6:54
6-12 My Love Is A April Song 5:15
6-13 Deed I Do 6:18
6-14 Love Is Here To Stay 4:33
6-15 California, Here I Come 4:00
6-16 Warmup ("The Things Called Changes") 1:10
6-17 What Kind Of Fool Am I ? 6:15
7-1 What Is The Thing Called Love 4:47
7-2 Alone Together 5:38
7-3 California, Here I Come 4:26

Monica Zetterlund And Bill Evans : Waltz For Debby

7-4 Come Rain And Come Shine 4:39
7-5 Jag Vet En Deglig Rosa (A Beautiful Rose) 2:50
7-6 Once Upon A Summertime 3:01
7-7 So Long, Big Time 3:50
7-8 Monicas Vals 2:46
7-9 Lucky To Be Me 3:37
7-10 Vindarna Sucka (Sorrow Wind) 3:01
7-11 It Could Happen To You 2:58
7-12 Some Other Time 5:34
7-13 Om Natten (In The Night) 1:40
7-14 Come Rain And Come Shine 5:24
7-15 Come Rain And Come Shine 5:12
7-16 Lucky To Be Me 3:06
7-17 It Could Happen To You 3:24
7-18 It Could Happen To You 3:18
7-19 Santa Claus Is Coming To Town 2:26

Trio 65

8-1 Israel 4:46
8-2 Elsa 4:20
8-3 'Round Midnight 6:40
8-4 Love Is Here To Stay 4:00
8-5 How My Heart Sings 2:47
8-6 Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me) ? 4:51
8-7 Come Rain Or Come Shine 5:23
8-8 If You Could See Me Now 5:46

Bill Evans Trio With Symphony Orchestra

8-9 Granados 5:50
8-10 Valse (Siciliano In G Minor) 5:49
8-11 Prelude (Prelude #15 In D-Flat Major) 2:58
8-12 Time Remembered 4:12
8-13 Pavane 3:57
8-14 Elegia 5:10
8-15 My Bells 3:45
8-16 Blue Interlude (C-Minor Prelude, Op. 28) 6:04

Bill Evans At Town Hall Volume One

9-1 I Should Care 5:37
9-2 Spring Is Here 5:00
9-3 Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me) ? 6:18
9-4 Make Someone Happy 4:47
9-5 Solo - In Memory Of His Father 13:39
9-6 Beautiful Love 6:52
9-7 My Foolish Heart 4:47
9-8 One For Helen 5:53

Bill Evans And Jim Hall : Intermodulation

10-1 I've Got You Under My Skin 5:21
10-2 My Man's Gone Now 6:43
10-3 Turn Out The Stars 7:34
10-4 Angel Face 6:33
10-5 Jazz Samba 3:07
10-6 All Across The City 4:50

A Simple Matter Of Convention

10-7 A Simple Matter Of Convention 3:17
10-8 Stella By Starlight 4:08
10-9 Orbit (Unless It's You) 3:41
10-10 Laura 4:17
10-11 My Melancholy Baby 5:13
10-12 I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over You 4:11
10-13 Star Eyes 4:56
10-14 Only Child 4:02
10-15 These Things Called Changes 3:33

Further Conversations With Myself

11-1 Emily 4:52
11-2 Yesterdays 3:48
11-3 Santa Claus Is Coming To Town 3:45
11-4 Funny Man 3:43
11-5 The Shadow Of Your Smile 8:01
11-6 Little Lulu 2:48
11-7 Quiet Now 7:52

California, Here I Come (previousely Unissued)

11-8 Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe 4:26
11-9 In A Sentimental Mood 4:04
11-10 Re: Person I Knew 5:00
11-11 California, Here I Come 5:36
11-12 Alfie 5:04
11-13 Gone With The Wind 6:05
11-14 Turn Out The Stars 5:51
11-15 Polka Dots And Moonbeams 3:24
11-16 Stella By Starlight 4:04

California, Here I Come

12-1 Very Early 5:15
12-2 You're Gonna Hear From Me 4:42
12-3 Emily 5:25
12-4 Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams 6:51
12-5 'Round Midnight 6:07
12-6 On Green Dolphin Street 4:53
12-7 If You Could See Me Now 3:37
12-8 I'm Getting Sentimental Over You 4:27
12-9 You're Gonna Hear From Me 4:57
12-10 G Waltz 4:36
12-11 California, Here I Come 5:07
12-12 Emily 4:42
12-13 Alfie 4:43
12-14 Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams 7:16

California, Here I Come (previousely Unissued)

13-1 In A Sentimental Mood 4:08
13-2 California, Here I Come 4:38
13-3 You're Gonna Hear From Me 6:12
13-4 Alfie 5:24
13-5 Gone With The Wind 6:01
13-6 Emily 5:55
13-7 G Waltz 5:03
13-8 Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams 6:09
13-9 In A Sentimental Mood 3:55
13-10 California, Here I Come 4:35
13-11 You're Gonna Hear From Me 5:00
13-12 Alfie 5:12
13-13 Gone With The Wind 5:54
13-14 Emily 5:21
13-15 G Waltz 3:17

California, Here I Come

14-1 Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams 5:46
14-2 On Green Dolphin Street 3:50
14-3 G Waltz 4:01
14-4 You're Gonna Hear From Me 5:10
14-5 Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams 6:59
14-6 Gone With The Wind 5:51
14-7 Emily 5:08
14-8 G Waltz 4:33

At Montreux Jazz Festival

14-9 Spoken Introduction 0:57
14-10 One For Helen 4:24
14-11 A Sleepin' Bee 6:05
14-12 Mother Of Earl 5:15
14-13 Nardis 8:22
14-14 Quiet Now 6:11
15-1 I Love You, Porgy 6:00
15-2 The Touch Of Your Lips 4:45
15-3 Embraceable You 6:45
15-4 Someday My Prince Will Come 6:08
15-5 Walkin' Up 3:35

Alone

15-6 Here's That Rainy Day 5:20
15-7 A Time For Love 5:04
15-8 Midnight Mood 5:20
15-9 On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever) 4:47
15-10 Never Let Me Go 14:34
15-11 A Time For Love 6:56
15-12 All The Things You Are - Midnight Mood 4:07

Bill Evans With Jeremy Steig

16-1 Straight, No Chaser 5:41
16-2 Lover Man 6:20
16-3 What's New 4:51
16-4 Autumn Leaves 6:14
16-5 Time Out For Chris 7:20
16-6 Spartacus Love Theme 4:58
16-7 So What 9:11

Previousely Unissued

16-8 Why Did I Choose You ? (ct) 4:07
16-9 Why Did I Choose You ? (ct) 4:11
16-10 Why Did I Choose You ? (ct) 4:21
16-11 Why Did I Choose You ? (ct) 4:24
16-12 Why Did I Choose You ? (ct) 4:22
16-13 Why Did I Choose You ? (ct) 4:14
16-14 Why Did I Choose You ? (ct) 4:15

From Left To Right

16-15 Why Did I Choose You ? (mst) 5:04
17-1 I'm All Smiles 5:42
17-2 Like Someone In Love 5:38
17-3 Chidren's Play Song 4:11
17-4 Soirée (ct) 3:37
17-5 Soirée (mst) 3:34
17-6 Soirée (ct) 3:22
17-7 Lullaby For Helen (ct) 2:42
17-8 Lullaby For Helen (ct) 2:41
17-9 Lullaby For Helen (ct) 2:37
17-10 Lullaby For Helen (mst) 2:51
17-11 What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Live ? (ct) 4:34
17-12 What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Live ? (inc) 2:39
17-13 What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Live ? (ct) 4:42
17-14 What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Live ? 4:05
17-15 The Dolphin - Before (ct) 4:09
17-16 The Dolphin - Before (ct) 4:00
17-17 The Dolphin - Before (ct) 4:04
17-18 The Dolphin - Before (bd) 2:03
17-19 The Dolphin - Before (ct) 4:05
17-20 The Dolphin - Before (bd) 3:06
17-21 The Dolphin - Before (ct) 3:52
18-1 The Dolphin - Before (mst-edited) 3:05
18-2 The Dolphin - After 3:07

Previsiously Unissued

18-3 Comrade Conrad (ct) 4:36
18-4 Comrade Conrad (inc) 4:01
18-5 Comrade Conrad (ct) 3:36
18-6 It Must Be Love (ct) 3:57
18-7 It Must Be Love (inc) 2:32
18-8 It Must Be Love (ct) 3:42

Eddie Costa With Rolf Kuhn And Dick Johnson

18-9 Spoken Introduction 0:47
18-10 Dancing In The Dark 5:35
18-11 I Love You 4:32
18-12 'S Wonderful 5:14