Bill Evans Trio - Live In Switzerland (1975)

This album comes from a live 1975 concert by the Bill Evans Trio, which was broadcast by Radio Suisse in Switzerland. The pianist is in superb form, joined by longtime bassist Eddie Gomez and newcomer Eliot Zigmund on drums. The sound is excellent, without the annoying announcers or distortion, so this release could have very well been produced from the master tape itself. The set is wide-ranging, including both recent and older compositions by Evans, "Gloria's Step" (the best-known work by former Evans sideman Scott LaFaro, who died far too young), along with standards like a buoyant "My Romance." The leader's treatment of his ballad "Turn Out the Stars" is rather upbeat, while his somewhat avant-garde composition "T.T.T.T." (also known as "Twelve Tone Tune Two") is a modern masterpiece. Perhaps the greatest surprise was Evans' inventive treatment of pop singer Bobbie Gentry's "Morning Glory." ~ by Ken Dryden, AMG. 

Gambit Records, 69232, 2005
Recorded 6th February, 1975 Live at Epalinges, Switzerland

Musicians:
Bill Evans - Piano
Eddie Gomez - Bass
Eliot Zigmund - Drums 

Tracks:
01. Sugar Plum {Bill Evans} (7:26)
02. Midnight Mood {Bill Evans} (8:23)
03. Turn Out The Stars {Bill Evans} (4:55)
04. Gloria's Step {Scott LaFaro} (7:09)
05. Up With The Lark {Jerome Kern} (6:19)
06. T.T.T. [Twelve Toned Tune] {Bill Evans} (7:10)
07. Morning Glory {Bobbie Gentry} (4:24)
08. Sareen Jurer {Earl Zindars} (6:59)
09. Time Remembered {Bill Evans} (5:38)
10. My Romance {Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers} (7:53)
11. Waltz For Debby {Bill Evans} (5:57)
12. Yesterday I Heard The Rain {Cole Porter} (5:42) 

Total Time: 78:00 

Credits:
Concept and Design - Pep Faura
Photography [Cover] - Gai Terrell, Redferns
Liner Notes - Matías Rinar

Andy LaVerne Quartet - Modern Days & Nights: Music Of Cole Porter (1996)

Cole Porter wrote some of the most enduring songs of this century. So, when it came time to choose material for this collection, the problem was not a matter of inclusion, rather a matter of selection. Along with the intrinsic beauty of his compositions, Porter infused his songs with a malleability to absorb countless interpretations. While playing jazz is more expressive than interpretive, the arranging and harmonization of familiar melodies opens the way to interpretation. The expressive side of this project was covered by the musicians. The chemistry between Bill, John, Steve, and myself proved most gratifying. The result of having the Porter tunes as vehicles for self-expression, is the four of us coalescing into a strong, yet flexible unit. Of course, the gentle, genial, and generous guidance of Jamey D. Aebersold certainly helped complete the package. We really had fun playing, so have fun listening! ~ Andy LaVerne, February, 1997. 

Double-Time Records, DTRCD-120, 1997
Recorded 23rd November, 1996 at the Steve Davis Studio, Yonkers, New York 

Musicians:
Andy LaVerne - Piano, Arranger
Bill Evans - Soprano Sax (#1,2,4,8), Tenor Sax (#3,5,7,9)
John Patitucci - Acoustic Bass (#1-7,9)
Steve Davis - Drums (#1-7,9) 

Tracks:
1. A Cole Porter Flat {Andy LaVerne} (8:13)
2. I Love You {Cole Porter} (7:30)
3. Love For Sale {Cole Porter} (8:35)
4. What Is This Thing Called Love {Cole Porter} (8:11)
5. Everytime We Say Goodbye {Cole Porter} (7:24)
6. I've Got You Under My Skin {Cole Porter} (6:19)
7. Just One Of Those Things {Cole Porter} (8:42)
8. Everything I Love {Cole Porter} (4:06)
9. Night And Day {Cole Porter} (7:08) 

Total Time: 66:08 

Credits:
Producer - Jamey D. Aebersold
Mixing Engineer - Steve Davis
Photography - Andy Tommasi
Liner Notes - Andy LaVerne, Zan Stewart

LeeAnn Ledgerwood - You Wish (1991)

LeeAnn Ledgerwood, who played in New York clubs for most of the 1980s, finally made her debut as a leader on this set, which is comprised of six of her originals, two from flutist Jeremy Steig and a pair of standards. Throughout, the pianist often recalls Chick Corea (especially on "Nardis" and the intense "Terribillis"), performing with a trio, a quartet and solo (a largely unrecognizable "I Want to Talk About You"). Ledgerwood takes several impressive improvisations, but Jeremy Steig really dominates the four songs he appears on, while tenorman Bill Evans (who is on two selections) is quite effective on "Smash and Grab." With either Eddie Gomez or Steve LaSpina on bass in addition to drummer Danny Gottlieb, this well-rounded set was a good start for LeeAnn Ledgerwood's solo career. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG. 

Triloka Records, 320187-2, 2002
Digitally recorded 4th-5th January, 1991 At Power Station, New York City 

Musicians:
LeeAnn Ledgerwood - Piano, Keyboards
Jeremy Steig - Flute
Bill Evans - Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone
Eddie Gomez, Steve LaSpina - Bass
Danny Gottlieb - Drums 

Tracks:
01. Robins Row {Jeremy Steig, LeeAnn Ledgerwood} (3:53)
02. Taisho Pond {LeeAnn Ledgerwood} (4:50)
03. Miss Perfect {Jeremy Steig} (5:32)
04. Chance {LeeAnn Ledgerwood} (5:39)
05. Nardis {Miles Davis} (8:09)
06. Afterglow {Jeremy Steig} (3:12)
07. You Wish {LeeAnn Ledgerwood} (7:02)
08. Smash And Grab {LeeAnn Ledgerwood} (4:20)
09. Terribillis {LeeAnn Ledgerwood} (6:31)
10. I Wanna Talk About You {Billy Eckstine} (2:58) 

Total Time: 52:06 

Credits:
Producer, Remixing - Walter Becker
Executive-Producer - KD Kagel, Mitchell Markus, Paul A. Sloman
Engineer, Digital Editing, Mastering - Roger Nichols
Engineer [Assistant] - Dan Gellert
Remixing [Assistant] - Tom Hardisty

The Prestige All Stars - Roots 1957 [24/48 Vinyl Rip]

 While doing my Prestige comps, I came upon this relatively obscure album with a pair of baritone forward sessions. I had never heard it and there didn't seem to be any evidence of it on blogs or torrents, so when I saw a reasonable copy on Discogs, I grabbed it. The copy wasn't quite as good as advertised, but some repeated cleaning and help from Isoptope RX yielded a decent rip.

Side one is a 27 minute jam featuring Pepper Adams, Bill Evans, Idrees Sulieman, and little known trombonist Frank Rehack. The tune has it's high points and some lows as well, but overall it is well worth the time.

Side two is only half as long and features Cecil Payne, Tommy Flanagan, Jimmy Cleveland and Sulieman. These two tracks benefit from being more tightly arranged and more focused solos. Both are Gospel adaptions that make one wish that they were part of a fully realized project; they will come in handy when doing a jazz gospel compilation!

Tony Scott - I'll Remember

I thought it appropriate to post the companion to 'Golden Moments' here. I've re-upped KingCake's original post of sotise' rip and added full 300dpi scans from the LP.[grumpy]

Volume Two of this historic live recording - Once again the rip source is sotise, I parsed them to tracks [KingCake].

1 Stella by Starlight (Washington, Young)
2 I'll Remember April (DePaul, Johnston, Raye)
3 A Night in Tunisia (Gillespie, Paparelli)
4 Garrison's Raiders

"The follow-up to clarinetist Tony Scott's Golden Moments (both of which were released for the first time on Muse albums of the mid-1980s) uses the same group (a quartet with pianist Bill Evans, bassist Jimmy Garrison and drummer Pete LaRoca) and almost reaches the same heights. Scott was one of the finest clarinetists of the late 1950s before deciding to become a sketchily documented world traveler. This live date has lengthy versions of "Stella By Starlight," "I'll Remember April," "A Night In Tunisia" and the blues "Garrison's Raiders." The boppish music hints at future developments and both this album and Golden Moments (which gets the edge) are highly recommended. [I'll Remember was reissued as part of 32 Jazz's double-disc set, At Last, in 1999.]"

Tony Scott - Golden Moments

The original rip comes courtesy of our old friend Sotise - this Muse release was a reissue of a little known 1959 session featuring some serious heavyweights.

"Tony Scott was one of the major jazz clarinetists of the 1950s, but his decision to become a world traveler in 1960 has resulted in him becoming rather obscure. This valuable Muse release features the clarinetist in top form on an original blues and four standards (including 12-minute versions of "Walkin'" and "Melancholy Baby") in a quartet that also includes the up-and-coming pianist Bill Evans (who had just left Miles Davis' sextet), bassist Jimmy Garrison, and drummer Pete LaRoca. The bop-oriented improvisations hold one's interest and make one wish that Scott had stayed in New York throughout the '60s; he had much more to say. [Golden Moments was reissued as part of 32 Jazz's double-disc set, At Last, in 1999.]" Yanow, AMG