Bill Evans' Fantasy recordings from 1973 to 1979 have often been overlooked in favor of his earlier work but, as this excellent nine-CD set continually shows, the influential pianist growing as a musician through the years while holding on to his original conception and distinctive sound. The recordings are primarily in trio format, with one solo set and two quintet sets.
Over this period of time, Bill Evans was reportedly (relatively) drug free and his playing repertoire is greatly enhanced. The music is typically mellow and complex in Bill's typical style. Overall, these recordings are interesting, enjoyable, and really show the depth of Bill Evans as a pianist.
The collection has all the 98 selections Bill recorded on his eleven sessions for Fantasy label. Also included are nine numbers from a previously unreleased 1976 concert with his trio.
CD9 is Bill's appearance on 'Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz' radio show on NPR is tacked on as a bonus, and is among Marian's finest shows, a fascinating and informative hour of discussion and music with Bill.
Over the course of these nine CDs, sidemen include, Eddie Gomez, Marty Morell, Eliot Zigmund, Harold Land, Warne Marsh, Lee Konitz, Kenny Burrell, Ray Brown, and Philly Joe Jones.
These recordings represent Bill Evans in a transitional stage, which eventually led to his more aggressive approach over his last year of performance.
For the freeload, tell us about albums you enjoy that find the group or artist in a transitional mode.
I'd start with Dr Byrds And Mr Hyde, a transitional LP if ever there was. Deep Purple In Rock seems to feature a far sharper Ritchie Blackmore. MOI's Only Money was a huge leap, in my opinion, tho my heart remains loyal to FOut and AbFree. For me, the first Velvets album was them at their peak, with the following ones giving me [slightly] diminishing returns. Lah di dah.
ReplyDeleteBy the way Babs, this Bill Evans box (or the Village Vanguard complete) would be my wife's Desert Island Disc. For me, anything with Scott Lafaro is essential.
ReplyDeleteI love on Ornette's 'Free Jazz' album, how you can hear Scott in the left channel, and Charlie Haden in the left.
DeleteSteely Dan - 'Pretzel Logic'
ReplyDeleteStevie Wonder's - 'Music Of My Mind'
Joni Mitchell - 'For The Roses'
Pink Floyd - 'A Saucerful of Secrets'
Doobie Brothers - 'Takin’ It to the Streets'
Bob Dylan - Bringing It All Back Home'
Miles Davis and John Coltrane (together and separately) were ever evolving.
Also, David Bowie (usually) had at least one song on each album that hinted at where he was going next.
Led Zeppelin III seems so in hindsight also The Stones Black and Blue - after the loss of Mick Taylor and working out his replacement Ron Wood. Oh and I would also nominate "Help" it was their last album John wrote straight out love songs.
ReplyDeleteBeggars Banquet, too.
DeleteWilco - Summerteeth. Their first foray into more electronica based sounds, followed up by the even more adventurous Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. The release before Summerteeth was Being There, which is firmly in the alt country genre.
ReplyDeleteMy youngest daughter turned me onto Wilco.
DeleteI was really into them for awhile. Kinda stopped with Sky Blue Sky. Not so much them, as it was me just moving on to other genres of music. Really liked the lps they did with Billy Bragg, too.
DeleteWorkingman's Dead was the excellent transition point for the band, a better album than the one that followed, and some (!) would say better music than all that followed (for the most part). I know they bored the shit out of me in concert in 1974, if I want the live GD experience I listen to Live/Dead.
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ReplyDeletehttps://workupload.com/file/fCC2Fueektb
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Thanks, babs! Might be time for a new ext HD!
DeleteVan Morrison's Blowin' Your Mind catches him transiting from the pop of "Brown Eyed Girl" to "T.B. Sheets," the forerunner to the long form songs that would populate Astral Weeks.
ReplyDeleteInteresting choice given Morrison doesn't recognise the album as it was released without his involvement and permission (beyond the signing of a recording contract and the recording of the songs which were intended as 4 singles).
DeleteMorrison had no say in how the album was created and produced and the cover caused a minor furore. Morrison is quoted as saying:
"I got a call saying it was an album coming out and this is the cover. And I saw the cover and I almost threw up, you know."
I was aware of the record's history and agree with VM that the cover is horrific. The record's also a hodgepodge in terms of sequencing and styles, but putting aside the shabby treatment Morrison received, it also undoubtedly, if unintentionally, documents an artist in transition.
DeleteMost of Frank Zappa's albums are during a transitional period, but Hot Rats, Waka Jawaka, The Grand Wazoo & the Roxy tour band recordings really stand out, to me. Thanks Babs
ReplyDeleteOne could argue that the floating Fleetwood Mac post-Peter Greene and pre-Stevie'n'Lindsey basically only made transitional albums which isn't entirely untrue. Bare Trees is really good, and the other albums have their moments.
ReplyDeleteWasn't there also a fake Fleetwood Mac during that time?
DeleteOh, there was. Somehow the manager got the rights to their name and put a band together, devoid of any of the then, or former, members and started a US tour using the FM name (around '74). Ultimately the tour was halted and Fleetwood got the name back. I was at one of the fake FM concerts - was not good.
DeleteOK thanks for the (bad) memory/experience - where they essentially an FM covers band or did they do their own thing?
DeleteWhen I saw them, they did not perform a single FM song. Best as I recall, they did covers of standard blues/rock classics, including a cover of Mustang Sally, that was met with catcalls and a few beers being projectiled at the stage.
DeleteBabs many thanks for Bill. Youn can never have too much of Evans. While I certainly enjoy the records, you have the best blog audience I've ever seen. I learn a lot from them and many times they also remind me of old record that are worthwhile revisiting. So, thank you Babs and also thanks to the commentators!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nico, posts like this make it all worthwhile.
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