Bill Evans Trio - 'Round Midnight (Official Visualizer)

This is the last album Bill Evans made for his first label. The fact alone would give this at least historical significance; and there is surely also some importance to its being one of only two occasions on which the pianist was recorded for Riverside during ""live"" performance (the other, or course, resulted in the classic pair of Village Vanguard albums, now OJCCD-140-2 and OJCCD-210-2). But above all, these two nights at Shelly Manne’s club in Hollywood marked the only recording by the excellent but short-term third trio; after the untimely death of Scott LaFaro, bassist Chuck Israels joined Bill and Paul Motian; then in 1963 Los Angeles studio-stalwart drummer Larry Bunker made this brief but noteworthy contribution to the Evans legend.

[AlanSenzaki]

I was there at Shelly’s Manne Hole when these recordings were made. Bill wasn’t in the best of health at the time but his playing was gorgeous. Chuck Israel’s sounded beautiful as well. A night I’ll never forget!

[philippebyrnes]

Don't know if you're affiliated with Bill Evan's estate but doesn't matter, I love Bill. He was the Debussy of American Jazz. As Miles said of him during Kind of Blue, I don't care if a cat is green if he can play. Bill could play. Sad about his demons but thanks for the music, Bill. RIP.

[barbarabrown]

Saw him at Keystone Corners in SF with Blakey.
omg

[boothamilton]

Beautiful, of course. I just wish the piano had been properly mic'd, allowing for more sonic presence in the overall mix.

[massimiliano-oronzo]

This version by Bill Evans is probably the best ever, far surpassing even T. Monk's.