Search - Bill Evans :: Paris Concert 2

The two Paris albums are a steal! You won't be disappointed

Patrick D. Goonan | Pleasanton, CA | 12/29/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Paris Concerts are two of my favorite Bill Evans albums. In my opinion, he is at the very top of his game on these recordings and I especially like the way that Marc Johnson and Bill Evans play together. It is reminiscent of the early Scott LaFaro recordings, but even better. There is a depth and sensitivity here that represents a very mature Bill Evans at the height of his ability. In short, these are both pure magic."

This was the Bill Evans record...

Henry Rosner | Philadelphia, Pa United States | 02/07/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"... that changed the way I approached listening to music. Of course since then the final Village Vanguard sets were released which are equally as well executed. This is Bill Evans at his pinnicle. It's just so sad that he had so little time left. He was musically on his way to the stratosphere."

Wild Bill, Part Deux

Fly By Light | Atlanta, Georgia | 11/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Unlike Edition One, this CD features mostly Evans originals. The close-mic'ed piano has an up-front, bright sound that almost sounds recorded in a carpeted studio. The bass has so much tone and sustain that it nearly duplicates a fretless bass guitar. The drums have a full, but natural sound.



Evans sticks closer to the written notes on Edition Two, leaving more sonic room for the band to noodle around than in Edition One. The result approaches the "good old days" with Scott LaFaro, except that Evans' playing is busier. Even his accompaniments on bass solos do more flips and turns than they did before.



Then there's Nardis. . .Evans contorts this song well beyond recognizability in an epic piano solo, then the band joins in. Everyone takes a "just me" solo and the song goes places that Miles Davis never dreamed of at a scorching tempo. Try to listen and not be amazed.



The Village Vanguard recordings are more subdued and "cool", but the group work on Paris Concert, Edition Two proves that Evans saved some of his best days for last."