Bill Evans - The Paris Concert, Edition One (1983)

ELEKTRA/MUSICIAN MONTH (FEBRUARY 2023)

Note: this release was originally purchased as an LP, later replaced by a CD.

Another release in the Elektra/Musician label's Jazz Master Series, this concert was recorded by Radio France at l'Espace Cardin in Paris, France on November 26, 1979, less than a year before Evans' death at age 51.

So relaxing and serene it's easy to slip from active listening into passive listening and forgetting that you're being treated to a master at work. What a delight. The young rhythm section is remarkably solid and they offer up some tasteful solos, but they seem to know their main role is simply to support what Evans is doing and get out of his way. In fact, they're not on every track, allowing for some solo piano improvisations as well.

Evans - piano
Marc Johnson - bass
Joe LaBarbera - drums

Liner notes

Reviews/ratings:

• Billboard: "in excellent form"
• Musician: "graceful and seamlessly integrated"
• Downbeat (★★★★★): "should stand as one of the most touching and spiritual performances of the latter Evans legacy."
• The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide (1999): ★★★★
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★
• The Penguin Guide to Jazz (5th ed., 2000): ★★★½

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: did not chart
• Billboard Jazz: #19
• CashBox Jazz: #15
• Radio & Records Jazz: #16

Tracks: No Evans originals in this edition. Tunes selected from the concert are Evans's take on romantic tunes, old and new. From the first 8 tracks, pick 'em:

1. I Do It for Your Love (Paul Simon) - 6:18
2. Quiet Now (Denny Zeitlin) - 5:55
3. Noelle's Theme (Michel Legrand) - 4:20
4. My Romance (Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers) - 9:15
5. I Loves You Porgy (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward) - 7:02
6. Up With the Lark (Jerome Kern, Leo Robin) - 6:41
7. All Mine (Minha) (Ruy Guerra, Francis Hime) - 4:05
8. Beautiful Love (Haven Gillespie, Wayne King, Egbert Van Alstyne, Victor Young) - 9:24
9. Excerpts of a conversation between Bill and his older brother, Harry Evans - 1:47

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None