AT THE EASTMAN THEATRE 1977

This release contains a rare Bill Evans performance issued for the first time ever. The unique formations consists of Evan’s drummer of the period, Eliot Zigmund, plus bassist Chuck Israels, who had left the trio in 1966. This was a very special reunion, as was the program, which included some songs rarely recorded by Evans during his final years, like Summertime, Some Other Time, and I Loves You Porgy. No other recorded testimony exists of this exact formation of Evans’ trio!

Personnel:

BILL EVANS, piano
CHUCK ISRAELS, bass
ELIOT ZIGMUND, drums
Eastman Theatre, Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York, Autumn 1977.

Tracks:

01. Announcement by Bill Evans
02. Emily
03. Time Remembered
04. Summertime;
05. In Your Own Sweet Way
06. I Loves You Porgy
07. Up With The Lark
08. Some Other Time,
09. My Romance

Eddie Gomez had made his last recording with Evans, but he continued to play in the trio for a few more months. In autumn 1977 a date at the Eastman School of Music at Rochester, New York, was scheduled. But Gomez had a recording session fixed in California and was unable to play. Evans asked his former bassist Chuck Israels to fill in and, confident that the problem was solved, discussed repertoire with him on the flight from New York City. (From Peter Pettiger’s Bill Evans biography How My Heart Sings)