 |
|
The newly released Scott LaFaro book and CD
Don Friedman, piano (1-5,8) Scott LaFaro, bass (1-5) Pete LaRoca, drums (1-5) Recorded in New York City 1961 (1-5) Track 6, Bill Evans and LaFaro.Track 8 recorded by George Klabin. More info and sound samples here. And check out allaboutjazz.com's review here. Make sure you check out Doug Ramsey's excellent piece "Listen To The Bass Player: Part 6, Scott LaFaro" for some excellent perspective on the great bassist. He includes some intriguing and little known quotes from Bill Evans. It's all part of a series that inclues some incisive material on Paul Chambers. Red Mitchell and other pioneers of the acoustic bass.
LaFaro’s sister and well-known musicians and jazz experts (like the late Gene Lees, Eddie Gomez, Marc Johnson, the late Bud Shank, Ornette Coleman and many more tell the musician’s story and reflect on his amazing legacy. His early life is well-chronicled, as is his work with Coleman, Victor Feldman, Stan Getz and others, including, of course his defining work with the Bill Evans Trio. There are many photos (none with Bill, oddly) and a disography. Several chapters explain (with musical examples) Scottie's revolutionary technique and musical contribution ot the music's history. A well-written, hearfelt and rather thorough biography. Recommended!
New CD: The Complete Bill Evans -Tony Scott
However, of course, they do not. Thanks to our longtime friends Eric Min-Tung in France and Dr. Rob Rijneke in The Netherlands, here is the lowdown on all the tracks in the set. Although there are some rarities hard to find, the CD title itself is definitely deceptive by using the word "complete". But with Lonehill (In Spain, where copyright and public domain laws and regulations are very different than those of the USA,, we can't say we're surprised. Buyer beware. *
Walkin'
CD 2, 1-3: Scott LaFaro (b), Paul Motian (d).
CD 2, 4-7: Henry Grimes (b on 4-6),
CD 2, 8-11: Les Grinage (b), Lennie McBrowne (d).
*Bonus tracks: It is assumed that LoneHill (or any other company putting out such products, have settled for royalties with the Evans estate and others involved. Thus, we do not endorse nor recommend products that have not done so, and we provide any patriculars as a public service strictly for informational purposes only. DVD - Trio and Umbria and Hamburg Quartet
The Complete Tony Bennett - Bill Evans recordings CD
Read a brand new and rather "personal" review by Will Layman at popmatters.com
CD (import): The Bill Evans Trio 'Live' in Paris, 1974
Only 10 of the total 21 tracks are here on the CD, and are as follows: 1. Up With The Lark (6:29), 2. 34 Skidoo (7:23), 3. Quiet Now (4:48), 4. Twelve Tone Tune (3:46), 5. Midnight Mood (6:22), 6. Sugar Plum (4:10), 7. If You Could See Me Now (6:07), 8. The Two Lonely People (5:48), 9. Waltz For Debby (4:59), 10. Goodbye (3:31) Total Time: 53:27 (Ordering info at cduniverse.com here) (Our thanks to our friend Dr. Rob Rijneke from the Netherlands for updated info) See the exclusive interview with LAURIE VERCHOMIN (Bill's girlfriend, who spent his last eighteen months with him) by Marc Myers on his blog, . Lots of personal revelations, and several surprises. It ran in five parts, MON -FRI (AUG. 21). withmore detailed or new information, filling in some gaps about Evans' final months. Do not miss this one. And if you haven't seen it yet, here is Laurie's own exclusive-to-our-site article, "September 15, 1980" from her forthcoming book. Bill
Evans - Concert DVD: the "Jazz Icons" series
 See our DVD review by special guest contributor MIKE ("Secret Sessions") HARRIS
NAXOS and Reelin' in the Years Productions has released this excellent DVD as part of its highly acclaimed "Jazz Icons" series. (the six other releases in the series include Oscar Peterson, Sonny Rollins, Cannonball Adderley, Nina Simone, Lionel Hampton and Rahsaan Roland Kirk -- all are sold separately, of course.) Below
is a list of the performances and the what, where and who. PERFORMANCES
ON THE DVD:
(Images courtesy of Reelin in the Years Productions, LLC and Naxos. All rights reserved.)
George
Russell (1923 - 2009)
The great arranger-composer -pianist George Russell passed away on Monday, July 27 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was best known for his revolutionary treatiseThe Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization (1953) , which had a huge impact on jazz and classical theory, as well as greatly influencing such seminal figures as Miles Davis, Eric Dolphy, John Coltrane and many others, including, of course, Bill Evans. Bill recorded with Russell on such seminal 1950s albums as "New York, New York", the well-known Brandeis jazz workshop recordings (with "All About Rosie"). and "Jazz in the Space Age" Bill Evans commissioned Russell to compose the work "Living Time", an eight-part suite for the trio and a large ensemble, which they recorded for Columbia Records in May of 1972. It became perhaps Evans' most controversial album. (Still unavailable on CD. Come on, SONY!) You can catch the video interview from 1972 in which Bill talks a bit about the project here NPR has a good remembernace with sound excerpts here, For an interesting video of Russell's "Stratrusphunk" from a 1958 TV special (featuring Bill Evans, Art Farmer, Jimmy Cleveland et al) go here. And this remembrance from pianist - composer Jack Reilly who studied with and later worked with Mr. Russell: Dear George, I'm sure you will be continuing your work in the stratosphere and are the gatekeeper in Lydian Heaven. Your music and The Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization theory will continue to be a guide and a challenge to all musicians, jazz and classical. I was a privileged member of his NY Band for a 1982 summer European tour and a subsequent gig/recording at the Vanguard. Being part of his music and this all -star band was equivalent to 8 PH.D's; and it lasted only 3 weeks! In 1961 I took six lessons with George studying the Concept (when it was still in manuscript form,) and when he resided at the Bank Street apartment, NYC. It took 18 months to complete the course because I needed three months in between each lesson just to practice and absorb what he taught me! The LCCOTO has now become my life time pursuit. It challenges the mind, heart and soul of the creative musician and demands one's full attention and understanding. It certainly is not meant for the weak and those looking for an easy way to playing "licks"! Thank you George. I appreciate, understand and am grateful for your genius. RIP. --Jack Reilly
"PIANO JAZZ with MARIAN McPARTLAND" featuring BILL EVANS - NOW ONLINE! (from 1979)
THE MARTY MORELL INTERVIEWS - In part two, Bill Evans drummer (from 1966-74) Marty Morell reveals more in this interview with webmaster Jan Stevens about his years working with Bill, the hassle when Stan Getz' sat in on tour with the trio in Europe, the "Living Time" album fiasco, why he left the trio, the Evans legacy, the music, his current projects and his CD, and much, much more. Fascinating stuff! (If you missed it, here's part one.) Last
but hopefully not least ... ONE OF OUR VERY FIRST ITEMS AFTER WE CHANGED
OUR DOMAIN NAME-- the NYC Bill Evans Tribute Concert in
2000 
ATTENTION
MUSICIANS! DON'T FORGET THESE FINE MUSIC BOOKS OF BILL EVANS SOLOS
AND TRANSCRIPTIONS. They are published by TRO, Inc. and available
through Hal Leonard Publishing and other music outlets! |
The
Pieces of Jade CD features material previously
unavailable to American audiences. Among the highlights is
a rare glimpse inside the creative process with LaFaro in
an extended practice session with Bill Evans, both
of them working through a standard they practically owned,
"My Foolish Heart." Also included are five selections recorded
in New York City during 1961 that showcase LaFaro with pianist
Don Friedman and drummer Pete LaRoca. Also
featured is a more recent Friedman composition dedicated to
the bassist, entitled Memories for Scotty,
as well as a rare 13-minute Bill Evans interview.
:
"All known performances with Bill performing with Tony together
here on one CD" says 
NEW
DVD: BILL EVANS TRIO 1978: UMBRIA/1972: (QUARTET with
HERB GELLER in HAMBURG)
This release from a European company known as Disconforme
(?) presents two performances by Bill Evans for the first
time ever on DVD. First, live at the Umbria Jazz festival,
Umbria, Italy, July 19, 1978, and a rehearsal filmed for
German TV with reedman Herb Geller in Hamburg, 1972. Some
of this footage has been floating around on YouTube for
a while (as noted here a few months back) but the 1978
trio with Philly Joe is rare. It's an import, and I held
off a few weeks after hearing it was out, since I saw
no American outlet offering it at the time. 
A
sublime 2-CD collection that spotlights the iconic song stylist
dueting with the legendary jazz pianist from their two albums recorded
in 1975 & 1976. Disc 1 combines the originally issued recordings,
The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album and Together Again
(originally on Bennett's own now-defunct IMPROV
label) with two bonus tracks. Disc 2 features alternate takes from
both sessions. Originally produced by Evans manager Helen Keane,
the remastered compilations is produced by Nick Phillips with new
liner notes by Will Friedwald. For lots more information on the
tracks and more. 
Now
streaming online (RealPlayer) -from
WFIU Public Radio (NPR) : 
1.
My Foolish Heart
