Bill Evans

INCLUDES 1 BONUS TRACK

This obscure session features Herbie Mann with the then new Bill Evans Trio (making its first recordings following the sudden death of bassist Scott LaFaro just a short time after the trio’s landmark gig at the Village Vanguard). Mann (1930-2003) changed his style numerous times throughout his long career, and is heard here exclusively in a straight-ahead and bop context. Evans, who studied flute through his college years and was fond of the instrument, rarely recorded with a flutist (Nirvana would be followed by What’s New?, with Jeremy Steig in 1969; in 1972, the pianist would perform a special concert in Germany playing with reedman Herb Geller, who played only flute during the entire set). Chuck Israels on bass and drummer Paul Motian round out the trio. This edition of the Bill Evans Trio didn’t last for long. Their first album together was, in fact, the quartet LP presented here, Nirvana, recorded in December 1961 and May 1962. In between the sessions for the aforementioned quartet album, the trio performed live at Birdland, in New York. The two only studio LPs by that formation of the trio were Moonbeams and How My Heart Sings!, both of which were culled from three sessions in May-June 1962.

PERSONNEL:

HERBIE MANN, flute.
BILL EVANS, piano
CHUCK ISRAELS, bass.
PAUL MOTIAN, drums

New York, December 8, 1961 (A1, A3, B1 & B2); May 4, 1962 (A2 & B3).

(*) BONUS TRACK (B4): Bill Evans (p), Teddy Kotick (b), Paul Motian (d).
New York, September 27, 1956.

SIDE A:

01 NIRVANA
02 GYMNOPEDIE  
03 I LOVE YOU

SIDE  B:

01 WILLOW WEEP FOR ME
02 LOVER MAN
03 CASHMERE  
04 I LOVE YOU [trio version]  (*)

(*) BONUS TRACK