BILL EVANS
Sunday At The Village Vanguard (Riverside)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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The six tracks that made up the original release of this album (supplemented by five bonus tracks on the CD version) emphasized the work of bassist Scott LaFaro, sometimes almost at the expense of the work of the leader. In part, this was because LaFaro was a talent worthy of such emphasis. In part, it was a tribute to the young musician who died ten days after this recording was made in the summer of 1961, ending one of the greatest collaborations in jazz history.

This version of the Bill Evans Trio, Evans, LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian, had less than two years to do its work, which was to set a new standard for piano trios that the best still aspire to and that none have surpassed. While many discs have been filled with various Bill Evans lineups at the Village Vanguard, none have exceeded the quality of lyricism, inventiveness and intimacy of this original effort. That being said, the album has long been available and occupies a place of honor on the shelves of most of Evans' fans already. Why a new release? New technology, in the form of the 20-Bit K2 interface developed by JVC, makes this music available in its finest audio presentation to date. This is the definitive edition of a classic album, worth a new aquisition or an immediate upgrade by any jazz fan.

Track List:

Gloria's Step (Take 2) * My Man's Gone Now * Solar * Alice In Wonderland (take 2) * All Of You (take 2) * Jade Visions (take 2) * Gloria's Step (take 3) * Alice In Wonderland (take 1) * All Of You (take 1) * All Of You (take 3) * Jade Visions (take 1)

© 2002 - Shaun Dale