Collaborations
(Bill Evans albums with other artists)
"The Ivory Hunters" (with Bob Brookmeyer) (on Blue Note) "Affinity"
(with Toots Thielemans)
"What's
New" (with Jeremy Steig) "Stan
Getz & Bill Evans"
"But Beautiful"
(with Stan Getz) Other tracks like "Emily", "You and The Night and The Music" sound great too. Marty Morell is in exceptional form here, as is Eddie. If you want to hear the lyrical and inspired Stan Getz with the always lyrical Bill Evans, pick this up instead of the one above! (Released after the deaths of both artists) Cannonball Adderley
featuring Bill Evans: "Know What I Mean"
I consider this a collaboration, since "featuring
Bill Evans" is on the cover, however, the sessions were organized
by Cannonball around Bill's playing. An exquisite album -- it's all pure
magic, with each soloist at his most imaginative and melodic. It's some
of Bill's most beautiful early playing. Recorded in 1961 with Percy Heath
on bass and Connie Kay on drums, this album is jazz masterpiece. "Undercurrent"
(with Jim Hall) "Intermodulation"
(with Jim Hall)
"The
Tony Bennett - Bill Evans Album" ***Fans of this album would probably also want to check out"Together Again"-- the second Evans session with Tony Bennett. Originally recorded for Bennett's long defunct Improv label, it's been re- released on Rhino Records with many bonus tracks and alternate takes. In Spring of 2009, Concord Records released the "Complete Tony Bennett -Bill Evans Sessions", featuring all the original and aternate takes from both sessions. "Tenderly:
An Informal Session" (With Don Elliott)
READ OUR COMPLETE CD REVIEW HERE |
This is a curious yet very satisfying
and fun record too often neglected or glossed over by Evans fans and scholars.
Recorded in NYC in March 1959 -- just twelve days after the first "Kind
of Blue" session with Miles -- Bill is joined by veteran jazz trombonist
Bob Brookmeyer -- here on piano. It's a fun, inventive romp through
seven durable pop standards, and reveals a quite adventurous Evans and
a surprisingly good Brookmeyer. ("Surprisingly", since piano
is not his first instrument). Brookmeyer, of course, went on to be a consummate
arranger, leader of one of most exciting big bands in jazz today, and
a very thoughtful and enduring trombonist. The two-piano arrangements
are calculated for who does what and when, and the contrasts between the
two keyboards are a great example of two learned musicians who rarely
clash, yet are willing to take chances and revel in the process. The MJQ
rhythm section of Percy Heath and Connie Kay keep a nice, consistent backing,
and hearing Bill with someone else on piano is quite an experience. Mr.
Brookmeyer more than holds his own, providing sturdy, yet often
bold and uncompromising voicings, inspired fills and flowing lines for
Bill's intelligent solos and chording-- and Bill returns the favor, being
rhythmically playful, yet giving great support and adding some playful
comments as Bob gets more than just a few good licks in. Every tune is
a highlight, so it's a fun ride. Songs: Honeysuckle Rose, As Time
Goes by, The Way You Look Tonight, It Could Happen to You, The Man I Love,
I Got Rhythm. This record seems to go in and out of print, so check
out amazon.com's vendors, or imports.
Recorded
in 1978 with the legendary jazz harmonica player and composer ("Bluesette"),
this album represents several "firsts" for Bill Evans. These
are his first versions of Paul Simon's beautiful "I Do It For Your
Love", and the standard "Days of Wine and Roses" (Not counting
the "V.I.P Theme" muzak record) --two tunes that stayed firmly
in the trio's repertoire till the very end. It is also the first Evans
release to feature bassist extraordinaire Marc Johnson. This is an essential
album -- and some of Evans' most inspired later playing. His use of the
Fender Rhodes electric piano on some tracks blends beautifully with Toot's
warm melodicism, egging Bill on to some stunning work as an accompanist
and soloist -- and the two jazz masters are in rare form throughout.
"Affinity" can also boast of one of the most fluid and creative
renditions of "Body and Soul" in all of jazz. Tenor player Larry
Schnedier is featured on some lesser tracks. Thielemans later regarded
the sessions for "Affinity" as his favorite!
In the sixties, NYC flautist Jeremy Steig lived around the corner
from the Village Vanguard in NYC, and used to drop in to play a few tunes
when the trio was in town. He had also worked earlier with Eddie Gomez
for a time, and was in the forefront of the early jazz-fusion movement
in the 70s. It's a straight-ahead program here, with highlights including
"Lover Man" and Miles' classic "So What". Recorded
early in 1969, with Eddie Gomez on bass and Marty Morrell on drums --his
first recording with Evans).
Not considered one of the better sessions by either artist, the
playing is competent but uninspired. "Night and Day" is one
of the better tracks, and it's interesting to hear the WNEW Radio theme,
as well as Getz romping on Evans' "Funkalerro", but the whole
thing sounds stiff and dry. Pettinger's bio says both Bill and Stan Getz
were disappointed with the results as well, and held release off for many
years. Recorded in May 1964 with Elvin Jones on drums why ?) and either
Richard Davis or Ron Carter on bass.
Recorded during a 'live' trio performance (with Eddie Gomez and
Marty Morrell) on Evans' birthday in August 1974 in Antwerp, Belgium.
Jimmy Rowles "The Peacocks" (with just piano and tenor sax)
is an inspiring high point. During the show, Getz went into "Stan's
Blues" unexpectedly at the concert, and the surprised pianist refused
to play on it, visually cluing his bandmates not to solo, either! So right
past the first chorus, it's just sax-bass-drums on that one. Getz plays
his heart out on it, even though Bill remians silent. 
Recorded in April and May of 1962, the first of two duo sessions
with the brilliant guitarist Jim Hall. Intimate and revealing, with both
men listening intently, and never getting in each other's way. Highlights:
"Darn That Dream" , Tommy Dorsey's old theme "I'm Getting
Sentimental Over You" and a very swinging "My Funny Valentine"
(the CD has an alternate take of this one, and both are revelations).
Guitar and piano have long had a somewhat difficult time working in empathy
with each other in jazz -- especially in duo format -- both instruments
can muddy up the other's middle range. This album should be "Lesson
#1" in how to do so effectively. Just a beautiful record all around
, with some of Evans' warmest chordal tapestries, and the lyrical fluidity
of the legendary master Jim Hall. 
Recorded
four years later in 1966; another intimate duo session with guitar master
Jim Hall. "Turn Out the Stars"makes its first appearance on
record; another highlight is "Angel Face", wherein a solo fragment
Evans played was later was made into the main melodic motif of "Sugar
Plum" in 1970. Bill especially liked "Jazz Samba" from
this album, saying in an interview that "we could not have got the
same result with a full rhythm section. It's hard to get that buoyant
moving feeling..." It's difficult to compare this release with the
above, since both are exemplary for their intelligent and beautifully
passionate iinterplay. They're among the favorites of jazz fans everywhere,
and are irreplaceable as examples of the great duo albums in jazz history.
A real gem from 1975, and a
warm and surprisingly rich album. It's such a treat to hear Bill's thoughtful
accompaniment behind Bennett, as just the two of them take on "Some
Other Time", The Touch of Your Lips", "Some Other Time",
"Young and Foolish", Waltz For Debby" and others. For those
familiar with Bill's other versions of these staples from his book, its
fascinating to hear these with what he does behind Tony Bennett, who never
sounded warmer and more expressive. Even DOWNBEAT gave it 5 stars when
it was released. 
This was originally
recorded on a mono tape recorder as an informal jam session between two
good friends at Don Elliott's Connecticut home circa, 1956-57. Not good
sound quality, and surely not a disc Bill would have released in his lifetime,
but a fascinating early glimpse into the flowering genius of Bill Evans.