Bill Evans Trio Sunday At The Village Vanguard - Original Jazz Classics Vinyl

The Bill Evans Trio Sunday At The Village Vanguard has just been reissued in the Craft Original Jazz Classics Series. In this video, I compare the OJC to an earlier audiophile pressing from Alto Analogue that I've had for a few decades now. I've always considered Sunday At The Village Vanguard one of the greatest live jazz albums ever, and found it the perfect album as I was just starting to explore jazz. Recorded over one day in 1961, it presents a compelling picture of this special trio. A second album from these sessions followed this one titled Waltz For Debby, a review of which I will list below.

The Craft Original Jazz Classics Bill Evans Trio Sunday At The Village Vanguard has been cut directly from the original master tapes by Kevin Gray at Coherant Audio, pressed on 180gm vinyl by RTI, and presented in a beautiful matte finished jtip on jacket with obi.

This album and other recommended titles are now available in The Pressing Matters storefront, which is an Amazon Affiliate Storefront. Please check it out here:
(As an an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases)

Also here is the direct link for the album:

00:00 Introduction
00:42 Support and Storefront
01:23 History
03:01 Other Pressings
04:49 The Musicians
06:55 Comparisons
10:13 Pressing Quality
11:55 Conclusion

Reference System
-Basis 1400 Turntable
-Rega RB300 Tone Arm
-Audio Technica AT33EV MC Cartridge
-Hana SL ML Cartridge
-ModWright PH 9.0 Tube Phono Pre
-Cayin A-50T Integrated Tube Amplifier
-Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 Loudspeaker
-Magnapan MMG
-Tributaries Series 8 Interconnect
-Herron Audio Interconnect Cable

[divinityy_yt]

I love how flawlessly you talk about these albums!! The way described them was beautiful I loved it 🫶🏾🫶🏾

[Universityofvinyl]

This and Waltz make my list of best reissues for the year. I also had lead out noise which I found surprising. Thankfully, both albums’ music is noise free. Happy Thanksgiving!

[sgx]

I have Sunday and Debby - both are great - Debby was factory scratched when I got it but made exchange and the subsequent was clean

[primeanalogrecords]

Scott what a great review! I couldn’t respond to it until I acquired it myself and auditioned it! I got it this morning and listen to it tonight! Twice through! I heard and agree with you about the immersive experience, and it is magical! There were a few hotspots, distortion points, with the Bass that I found throughout, but not enough to take away from the album! What I’m talking about is a sharp buzz that you can get when a note is not struck cleanly or the mixes too hot! You see, I will have a different take than many will because I learn to play bass on an upright bass! You see this isn’t an acoustic bass as it is micd or amplified to keep it even with the drums and piano! That slight distortion, which is rare is probably coming from a peak level within the board! I do think Kevin did an incredible job with maintaining the ambient noise with the music in a very thoughtful way! I’m so glad to add this to my collection, and I will enjoy it for many many years for sure! Thank you for pushing me over the edge!

[Jackgrahamphotograph]

Damm Scott--I was going to do my version of this!!!--But again, as usual.. you knocked it out of the box--I can not add anything--so complete and accurate!.. FOLKS Please SUPPORT

[djjoeykmusic]

Hi Scott,
Great great great video!

Awesome

My hightlight of the day.

Happy Thanksgiving 🍁 I am thankful for you.

[mr.classicalmusic]

Evans was a gifted jazz pianist...looking forward to the video.

[curtist]

Excellent analysis. I always look forward to your thoughtful commentary. I also have the lead out noise.

[mcgjohn]

forgot to add there is one more US pressed version. The Fantasy 2-fers series issued in the 1970s released this title. Mastered by Turner and pressed by one of the Columbia plants. On this 2 record release you get both "Sunday" and "Waltz for Debby" on one 2 disc set. Sonics are a notch below the first OJC release but are still quite listenable. And for those on a tight budget it may be a good option. You get this two record set which contains both titles for around 25-30 USD.

[mcgjohn]

Happy Thanksgiving and nice review. Great coverage on the sonics and pressing on this new OJC. Think much of the sonics a person is hearing now on this new OJC series is the recent upgrade Kevin did to his audio signal path cutting chain. Same cutting signal path used on the new Tone Poets and BN Classic series. Would agree have exact same symptom at the runout grooves on my copies on the new press. As you noted the Alto Analog copy is good. Prior to that, this title was available on the Fantasy OJC series for many years. Still have a few OJC copies. Used copies of the original OJC series have climbed substantially in price over the last few years, same with original OJC press of Waltz for Debby. The original OJCs were pressed at one of the Columbia Record plants (Terre Haute, IN or Pitman NJ). If a person really deep cleans the older OJC it helps a ton. This recording is also available in the Acoustic sounds 45 RPM box set which is quite excellent. Bill Evans was also a huge seller in Japan. Both Toshiba-EMI and Victor Music pressed this title as well all of the other Bill Evans Riverside titles. Victor Music issued this several times as an SMJ series, a VIJ series and I believe a VIJJ series as well as the Victor pressed VIJ series Bill Evans Riverside Box set (a really great find if a person can locate it, but not cheap). If I had to rank the pressings I have, would say the 45 RPM box set is first, 2nd is the new OJC cut by Kevin Gray, 3rd is the Victor Music VIJ series, 4th is the Ultra copy, 5th is original OJC series. The Riverside OGs are super hard to find in clean condition. I do not have one so can't offer any comparisons on the sonics of the OG. For pressing quality only, the Victor Music SMJ or VIJ series tops everything else. Totally silent vinyl, no vinyl noise and great resolution. Not really possible but would be something to hear a Kevin Gray Lacquer plated and pressed by Victor Music Japan!

[fidelios_frequency]

Hi Scott, I’ve been waiting to get this album for quite a while since I started my journey into jazz two years ago. I was so excited when it was announced (along Waltz for Debby) in the OJC series that I immediately preordered it. I was blown away by the music and how good it sounds. I too noticed the lead out groove hiss which is annoying but not as much as the non-fill (or some kind of crackling) I hear on the first track. Replacement requested. Thanks for your comparison review!

[audiophileman]

Happy Thanksgiving to you! I listened to this release the day before Thanksgiving. Wow wow wow, I was so impressed with it that I pulled my son in the room to hear it too. 😻 He said that it was on the level of an UHQR pressing. There is light noise (nothing disturbing to me) in the dead wax of the record, but I don't hear anything in the grooves with music. Although I've known about this great release from the Bill Evans Trio for a long time, I never bought a vinyl copy of it until now. I was too busy acquiring other music. Within the last year I wanted to add a good sounding copy to my collection. I couldn't find it anywhere at an affordable price. I decided to wait for reissues of both this album and Waltz for Debby. I figured such great albums would be reissued sooner or later. Boy was the wait worth if for both albums. They're just such excellent versions. 😻

[brianlewis]

Great review Scott. I received my copy this week and I haven't had the time to listen to it yet. With Thanksgiving and work, there was no time. I really wanted to get the AP double 45 version of this album at one point and the only way to get it now is to purchase the boxset. For me, it is just too expensive so I was happy to see this version was made available. The between track noise really doesn't bother me, just as long as the music is clean and sounds good. I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Cheers

[ginntonic]

Great review as always ! Your even wearing your Sunday At the Village t-shirt

[leon]

I agree about the RTI lead out noise issue. Ive had the same experience with these OJCs and the recent Atlantic 75th series where the QRP presse of Selling England was quiet as can be while RTIs of Blues n Roots was noise the last few seconds before the music even ends. I wonder what is happening there.

[zundap]

I just bought it and the price in Norway is 60 dollars with all expenses. Thanks for the information.👍

[thomashertl]

Hi Scott, many thanks for your review which I was curiously waiting for. I also do own the Alto reissue and, man, I love it a lot. I also ordered the new OJC and I am still waiting for it. Listening to your impressions and experience with that one and since it obviously also has the same cutting or pressing issues as the Waltz for Debby I probably cancel my order. For 50+ US here in Europe I would expect a better quality. A pity but luckily the Alto serves me right. Happy Thanksgiving!

[MitchsVinylCorner]

This was probably the best release I grabbed in 2O23. I’m so glad Craft is going back and doing these titles. I’m hoping that this year Portrait in Jazz gets released. Keep up the great work 👍

[NotedArchived]

Nice overview, Scott. I, too, have the Alto 33 and love it (also have the One-Step - and just like you, never opened the shrink). Felt wise to keep that one intact (as I already had the AP45 version, as well.) I noticed the noise at the end of each side, as well. Will be so curious to see what other titles OJC announces soon for their next batch. Have always been wondering if Chad would team up with Craft to do a full Riverside Series run. All of those Riverside titles AP did back in the day are excellent and so far out of reach price-wise on Discogs now. Hope you and your's have a nice holiday. Cheers.

[BigE-Ian]

Thanks for the video review Scott. Was supposed to get my copy last week but it was delayed?
Sounds like it will be worth the wait though!