Friday 28 May 2010

Bill Evans - Homecoming (1999)

01.Re: Person I Knew
02.Midnight Mood
03.Laurie
04.Theme from M*A*S*H (Suicide is Painless)
05.Turn Out the Stars
06.Very Early
07.But Beautiful
08.I Loves You, Porgy
09.Up with the Lark
10.Minha (All Mine)
11.I Do it for Your Love
12.Someday My Prince Will Come
13.Interview with Bill Evans by Rod Starns.

Bill Evans (piano)
Marc Johnson (bass)
Joe La Barbera (drums)
Recorded live at Southeastern Louisiana State University, Hammond, Louisiana on Novermber 6, 1979. Includes liner notes by Ron Nethercutt.
Digitally remastered by Joe Tarrantino (1999, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California).

A previously unreleased concert recording by the legendary Bill Evans would be great news anyway, but this one is particularly special because it documents a 1979 performance at Southeastern Louisiana University, Evans' alma mater and a place for which he had especially warm feelings. Accompanied by the young bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Joe La Barbera, Evans plays a generous set of familiar tunes, including such standbys as "Re: Person I Knew," "Turn Out the Stars," and "I Loves You, Porgy." The album's last track is a six-minute interview conducted by Rod Starns. Although the sound quality is iffy -- the stereo balance is tilted markedly to the listener's left and the drums are poorly miked -- the program is excellent and Evans is playing near peak form. Johnson's playing betrays a strong Scott LaFaro influence, especially on his two duets with Evans and on the trio's shimmering performance of "Someday My Prince Will Come." This disc is a valuable historical document, but it's also a genuine pleasure to listen to. ~ Rick Anderson.
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