Everybody Digs Bill Evans
| Everybody Digs Bill Evans | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Bill Evans | ||||
| Released | End of March 1959[1] | |||
| Recorded |
December 15, 1958 Reeves Sound Studios, New York City | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length |
42:36 original LP 48:45 CD reissue | |||
| Label |
Riverside RLP 12-291 | |||
| Producer | Orrin Keepnews | |||
| Bill Evans chronology | ||||
| ||||
Everybody Digs Bill Evans is an album by jazz musician Bill Evans. It was released in early 1959 on the Riverside label.
History
Everybody Digs Bill Evans was the artist's second album, done two years after his first record as a leader. Even though his producer tried to encourage him to record again sooner, the highly self-critical Evans felt he had "nothing new to say" before this album.
The recording captures Evans at a time when he was into playing block chords. That combined with his expert use of pedals gave him a fresh, distinctive sound that had never been heard before on the piano.
It was reissued in 1987 with one bonus track.
Reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| All About Jazz | (no rating) [2] |
| Allmusic |   [3] |
| The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide | [4] |
Writing for Allmusic, music critic Michael G. Nastos called the album "a landmark recording for the young pianist... Though not his very best effort overall, Evans garnered great attention, and rightfully so, from this important album of 1958."[3] Samuel Chell of All About Jazz wrote: "With its varied tempos, rhythms and programming, Everybody Digs Bill Evans sustains interest without allowing the listener for a moment to mistake the singular, inimitable voice of the leader. It's not hard to understand why many Evans followers, 'casual' and otherwise, list it as their favorite of the pianist's recordings. It's doubtful there's a more introspective, meditative trio set on record, yet the pianist shows he can dance as well."[2]
Track listing
- "Minority" (Gigi Gryce) – 5:23
- "Young and Foolish" (Albert Hague, Arnold B. Horwitt) – 5:54
- "Lucky to Be Me" (Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, Adolph Green) – 3:41
- "Night and Day" (Cole Porter) – 7:35
- "Tenderly" (Walter Gross) – 3:34
- "Peace Piece" (Bill Evans) – 6:44
- "What Is There to Say?" (Vernon Duke, Yip Harburg) – 4:55
- "Oleo" (Rollins) – 4:09
- "Epilogue" (Bill Evans) – 0:41
- Bonus track:
- "Some Other Time" (Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, Adolph Green) – 6:09
Personnel
- Bill Evans - piano
- Sam Jones - bass
- Philly Joe Jones - drums
References
- ↑ "Jazz Albums", Billboard, April 6, 1959.
- 1 2 Chell, Samuel. "Everybody Digs Bill Evans > Review". All About Jazz. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
- 1 2 Nastos, Michael G. "Everybody Digs Bill Evans > Review". Allmusic. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
- ↑ Swenson, J. (ed.) (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 74. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.