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Bill Evans's Finest Hour represents a number of choice tidbits recorded by the pianist between 1958 and 1970 for Verve. The settings of these recordings range between the intricate trio work he became so identified with to, in at least one instance, full orchestration. While Evans is certainly capable of bopping with the best on songs like "Luck Be a Lady" and "I Should Care," his style glimmers more distinctly on quieter numbers. The fragile "Elsa" and subtle "Spring Is Here" allow him to slowly, though deliberately, develop his impressionistic piano lines. Sensitive accompaniment by drummer Paul Motian and bassists Gary Peacock and Chuck Israels also adds a rich dynamic to these cuts. The recording of "I Loves You, Porgy" at the Montreux Jazz Festival is even more low key and bare, featuring Evans unaccompanied. These somber ballads, emotive and filled with slight shadings, work beautifully. It is almost as though the listener is eavesdropping as the pianist engages in late-night conversations with himself. Evans plays Latin jazz on two somewhat uncharacteristic tracks, "Jazz Samba" and "The Dolphin --After," and overdubs two other pianos on the moody "Spartacus Love Theme." Bill Evans's Finest Hour presents a good overview for those unfamiliar with the great pianist's music. The disc will also offer the listener a starting point to delve further into the delicate, lovely world of Bill Evans.
© Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr. /TiVo
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Bill Evans, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Alex North, ComposerLyricist - Creed Taylor, Producer
℗ 1963 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Bill Evans, MainArtist - FRANK LOESSER, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Costa Quartet, MainArtist
℗ 1958 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Bill Evans, MainArtist - Sherman Edwards, ComposerLyricist - Elise Bretton, ComposerLyricist - Don Meyer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1963 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Bill Evans, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Stan Getz, MainArtist - Creed Taylor, Producer
℗ 1973 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Bill Evans Trio, MainArtist - Earl Zindars, ComposerLyricist - Creed Taylor, Producer
℗ 1965 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Bill Evans, ComposerLyricist - CLAUS OGERMAN, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Rudy Van Gelder, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bill Evans Trio, MainArtist - Creed Taylor, Producer
℗ 1966 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Bill Evans, MainArtist - Sammy Cahn, Author - Paul Weston, ComposerLyricist - Fred Norman, Arranger, Work Arranger - Axel Stordahl, ComposerLyricist - Creed Taylor, Producer
℗ 1966 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Bill Evans, MainArtist - Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, Author - Jim Hall, Participant - Creed Taylor, Producer
℗ 1966 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Bill Evans, MainArtist - CLAUS OGERMAN, ComposerLyricist - Jim Hall, MainArtist - Creed Taylor, Producer
℗ 1966 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Bill Evans, MainArtist - Ted Koehler, ComposerLyricist - HELEN KEANE, Producer - Billy Moll, ComposerLyricist - Harry Barris, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1998 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Bill Evans, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jack DeJohnette, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Author - Dubose Heyward, Author - HELEN KEANE, Producer - Eddie Gomez, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Schwarz, Editor, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - Pierre Granjean, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jean-Claude Martin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1968 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Bill Evans, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jack DeJohnette, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - HELEN KEANE, Producer - Eddie Gomez, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Schwarz, Editor, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - Pierre Granjean, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jean-Claude Martin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1968 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Bill Evans, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sam Brown, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - HELEN KEANE, Producer - Michael Leonard, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Gomez, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Luiz Eça, Composer - Marty Morell, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1970 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
Bill Evans's Finest Hour represents a number of choice tidbits recorded by the pianist between 1958 and 1970 for Verve. The settings of these recordings range between the intricate trio work he became so identified with to, in at least one instance, full orchestration. While Evans is certainly capable of bopping with the best on songs like "Luck Be a Lady" and "I Should Care," his style glimmers more distinctly on quieter numbers. The fragile "Elsa" and subtle "Spring Is Here" allow him to slowly, though deliberately, develop his impressionistic piano lines. Sensitive accompaniment by drummer Paul Motian and bassists Gary Peacock and Chuck Israels also adds a rich dynamic to these cuts. The recording of "I Loves You, Porgy" at the Montreux Jazz Festival is even more low key and bare, featuring Evans unaccompanied. These somber ballads, emotive and filled with slight shadings, work beautifully. It is almost as though the listener is eavesdropping as the pianist engages in late-night conversations with himself. Evans plays Latin jazz on two somewhat uncharacteristic tracks, "Jazz Samba" and "The Dolphin --After," and overdubs two other pianos on the moody "Spartacus Love Theme." Bill Evans's Finest Hour presents a good overview for those unfamiliar with the great pianist's music. The disc will also offer the listener a starting point to delve further into the delicate, lovely world of Bill Evans.
© Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr. /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 01:02:36
- Main artists: Bill Evans
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Verve Reissues
- Genre: Jazz
© 2001 UMG Recordings, Inc. This Compilation ℗ 2001 UMG Recordings, Inc.
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