RIVERSIDE 18-LP Box R-018: BILL EVANS Complete Riverside Recordings - 1984 USA

	C$		412
	$		299

****Welcome to our listing, thanks very much for looking!

****See our own website! We have lots of out of print LPs and CDs! You can find us on the world wide web at -
                 hearthedifference.net

****Please see our other listings for more great LPs and CDs - new items added daily!

****To access our eBay store either click on the little red door at the top right section of any of our eBay listings or, click on -

http://stores.ebay.com/Hear-The-Difference

Background -

William John "Bill" Evans (August 16, 1929 – September 15, 1980) was an American jazz pianist and composer who mostly worked in a trio setting. Evans' use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, block chords, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines continue to influence jazz pianists today.

Born in Plainfield, New Jersey in 1929, he was classically trained, and studied at Southeastern Louisiana University. In 1955, he moved to New York, where he worked with bandleader and theorist George Russell. In 1958, Evans joined Miles Davis's sextet, where he was to have a profound influence. In 1959, the band, then immersed in modal jazz, recorded Kind of Blue, the best-selling jazz album of all time.

In late 1959, Evans left the Miles Davis band and began his career as a leader with Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian, a group now regarded as a seminal modern jazz trio. In 1961, ten days after recording the highly acclaimed Sunday at the Village Vanguard and Waltz for Debby, LaFaro died in a car accident. After months of seclusion, Evans re-emerged with a new trio, featuring bassist Chuck Israels.

In 1963, Evans recorded Conversations with Myself, an innovative solo album using the unconventional (in jazz solo recordings) technique of overdubbing over himself. In 1966, he met bassist Eddie Gómez, with whom he would work for eleven years. Several successful albums followed, such as Bill Evans at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Alone and The Bill Evans Album, among others.

Many of his compositions, such as "Waltz for Debby", have become standards and have been played and recorded by many artists. Evans was honored with 31 Grammy nominations and seven awards, and was inducted in the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame.

This compilation presents, on 18 LPs, the full results of 20 recording sessions from the pivotal eight year period (1956-63) that launched the remarkable career of Bill Evans and defined his position as one of the most significant, pace-setting jazz pianists of all time.

Here, in chronological order, are 151 performances, including the entire existing output of the legendary 1961 Village Vanguard session, as well as 17 selections from previously unissued solo studio session and seven other unreleased items. Ranging from solo to quintet, this collection also features such major artists as Cannonball Adderley, Freddie Hubbard, Philly Joe Jones, Jim Hall, Percy Heath, Paul Chambers, Ron Carter, Zoot Sims and Scott LaFaro.

The set contains a 32-page illustrated booklet that includes rare photographs, full discographical details, an appreciation of Evans by noted critic Martin Williams, and personal commentary on each session by producer Orrin Keepnews.

This magnificent set contains all of Bill Evans' Riverside recordings as a leader, an extremely important period in the influential pianist's development. The first session predates Evans' period with the Miles Davis Sextet and other significant sessions include his sets with bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian (highlighted by the marthon Village Vanguard session of June 25, 1961), Evans' return nearly a year after LaFaro's death in a car accident with a new trio (consisting of Motian and bassist Chuck Israels), a sideman set with altoist Cannonball Adderley, the Interplay sessions with either trumpeter Freddie Hubbard or tenor saxophonist Zoot sims, an extensive and rather somber solo set, and a 1963 appearance at Shelly's Manne Hole with bassist Israels and drummer Larry Bunker. Twenty sessions are released in full, 151 selections in all, including 24 performances that had been previously unissued at the time. True Bill Evans fanatics will have to get this remarkable box. - Scott Yanow

• LPs made by RIVERSIDE Records, in the USA
  

• LPs released in 1984
  

• LPs are recorded in STEREO

• Record Catalog Number: R-018

Bill Evans

The Complete Riverside Recordings

Performers & Tracks -

The 18-LP box is in near mint minus condition! The box has NO splits or crushed corners. The corners and seams are solid with just some very minor and light shelf wear. The colors on the box are sharp and clean (see pictures with this listing as they are of the actual item).

The set comes with massive 32 page, 12"x12" booklet insert/libretto.

• Mint = Only used for sealed items.
• Near Mint = Virtually flawless in every way.
• Near Mint Minus = Item has some minor imperfections, some audible.
• Excellent = Item obviously played and enjoyed with some noise.
• Very Good Plus = Many more imperfections which are noticeable and obtrusive.

For best results, always properly clean your LPs before playing them.

The LP is an audiophile quality pressing (any collector of fine MFSL, half speeds, direct to discs, Japanese/UK pressings etc., can attest to the difference a quality pressing can make to an audio system).

Don't let this rarity slip by!!!