Everybody digs Bill Evans- especially on remastered mono vinyl…
Bill Evans – Everybody Digs Bill Evans – Riverside/ Craft Recordings #CR00751 – 180 gm vinyl – Mono version – 1959 – Record Store Day release (04/20/24) – ****1/2
(Bill Evans – piano; Sam Jones – bass; Philly Joe Jones – drums)
For the upcoming Record Store Day promotion, Craft Recordings, a boutique label that specializes in giving upgrading treatment for classic jazz releases, is re-releasing one of Bill Evans most well known trio releases (from 1959), Everybody Digs Bill Evans. Its front cover is iconic, as it features major jazz artists (Miles Davis, George Shearing, Ahmad Jamal, and Julian “Cannonball” Adderley singing the praises of Bill Evans.)
Just before the time Bill was featured with Miles Davis’ sextet when they recorded the most famous jazz album of all-time, Kind of Blue, his label, Riverside Records, recognizing Evans’ emerging stature during this period, recorded the then thirty year old pianist with roster greats, bassist Sam Jones, and drummer, Philly Joe Jones. After his brief tenure with Miles, Evans then went out on his own with perhaps his most influential trio of his career, with bassist, Scott LaFaro, and drummer, Paul Motian.
Everybody Digs has eight tracks, mostly standards, except for three Evans’ originals. One of the originals, “Peace Piece,” is both unique, and one that is a favorite of Evans fans. Based on Leonard Bernstein’s “Some Other Time,” it’s an improvisation over that song’s harmonic frame. Like many of Bill’s now classic tunes it makes use of “space,” to enable the listener to soak in its elegance. It has a haunting effect that never tires, even after repetitive listening.
There are bop influences on Gigi Gryce’s “Minority,” as well as on Sonny Rollins’ “Oleo.” The ballads, “Young and Foolish,” and “Lucky to Be Me,” show the tender care that Evans brings to ballads. “Night and Day,” is given a “kick-start” with heavy percussion provided by Philly Joe Jones. Here Bill has cascading notes like soft raindrops.
Each LP side is book-ended with two brief versions of “Epilogue,” both only thirty eight seconds. They are definite mood setters.
Acoustics are impeccable, with lacquers cut from the original master tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearant Audio. RTI did the pressings on 180 gm vinyl.
This may very well be the definitive version of this seminal Bill Evans LP issue. Head down to your local record store on April 20th to get your copy.
—Jeff Krow
Everybody Digs Bill Evans
Tracklist:
Side 1:
Minority (5:20)
Young and Foolish (5:48)
Lucky to Be Me (3:35)
Night and Day (7:12)
Epilogue (.38)
Side 2:
Tenderly (3:29)
Peace Piece (6:37)
What Is There To Say? (4:49)
Oleo (4:04)
Epilogue (0:38)
More information through Record Store Day
