Search - Bill Evans :: Everybody Digs Bill Evans

Yes I Dig Him Too

Fly By Light | Atlanta, Georgia | 08/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Of the early Evans albums (through Waltz for Debbie), this is probably the most varied. Minority swings, Peace Piece weeps, Oleo bops, and Night and Day conjurs up memories of Bud Powell and Max Roach. If you like upbeat, subdued, or a little of everything mixed up, there's plenty to make you happy. This trio is one of the rowdiest that Evans recorded with, and the drumming of Philly Joe Jones lends a bouncy spirit of fun that Evans does not often have. As impressive as the record is, the most amazing part is that Evans continued to improve after this recording was made. However, it is a great introduction to his work."

Bill swings his a** off with Philly Jo in a classic album.

Dennis W. Wong | 09/21/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Much has been made about the classic trio Bill Evans had in the '59-'61 period but little is ever mentioned about this landmark album he did in 1958 shortly after leaving the Miles Davis sextet (he would return for the classic "Kind of Blue" session). In fact several years later in the '70's Bill would often refer to this session as a "one of a kind" that rarely occurs in an artist's life, akin to an actor or musician being in that zone where everything falls in place. Part of the success of this album was the close empathy between Bill and former Davis teammate Philly Jo Jones. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the latinish swinging "Night & Day", or in Sonny Rollins'"Oleo". And the modal phase of his playing is foretold in "Peace Piece" plus the added track "Some Other Time" unreleased at the time. Miles said in his auto-bio that a lot of the energy that Bill had was lost when he left the group and that he worked with White musicians only. This album refutes that point clearly, not only does Evans swing but he forms a mysterious bond with Philly Jo!! He would later also record with other Africain American musicians such as Jack DeJohnette and Richard Davis as well as reuniting with Philly Jo from time to time. This was my first introduction to Bill after hearing him in the "Kind of Blue" album and I wore the grooves on it as well playing it day in and day out. So if you want an intro to this iconic player, do make this one the first to check out!! Also don't leave another African American player's contribution to this classic, the under-rated Sam Jones."

Evans at His Lyrical Best

Karl W. Nehring | Ostrander, OH USA | 07/11/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I recommended this set years ago in The $ensible Sound, but can't remember whether it was an LP or CD from Riverside. In any event, JVC has released this using their XRCD process (a careful remastering using some JVC-developed equipment in the process), and the result is so musically wonderful that it is worth recommending all over again. They have also added a cut that was not on the original release. This is Evans at his lyrical best, playing both solo and in a trio format with Sam Jones on bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums. A wonderfully musical CD that you are guaranteed to dig."