Bill Evans Trio - I Will Say Goodbye

Never tire of this..........

This is one of Bill's best efforts.... I simply never tire of the beautiful expressions that only Bill Evans is capable of... the greatest jazz pianist ever... without question. If you are a Bill Evans admirer.. you need this one in your collection. February 29, 2008

Interesting material deftly handled

Bill Evans is most famous for his ground-breaking trio with bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian. While I cannot overstate the importance of said group, I actually think I like Evans' later trios better, any of the groups featuring Eddie Gomez. The present album does feature Gomez and drummer Elliot Zigmund, but like other albums of this period, Evans himself is the main focus. Something about the loss of LaFaro seems to have made Evans more generally assertive, and I have always felt that his command of the instrument was better later in his career.

This album features really interesting material; instead of lots of traditional standards, the material is made up of some later jazz tunes, the best example of which is Herbie Hancock's "Dolphin Dance." Considering that Hancock is greatly indebted to Evans for parts of his style, it is interesting that Evans (and Ahmad Jamal for that matter) would use this tune on their own albums. It's a great tune, though, and Evans handles it in a way which definitely contrasts with Hancock's approach. An interesting study is to compare the present version with Hancock's rendition on Ron Carter's "Third Plane" album, also featuring Tony Williams, as well as Ahmad Jamal's treatment on "The Awakening." Each version is different and I'm undecided as to my favorite (especially when you throw in the classic original version on Hancock's "Maiden Voyage") but I like this one a lot.

The other really interesting selection is Burt Bacharach's "A House is Not a Home," a tune often precariously dangling over the dark pit of cheesyness but nonetheless a very pretty tune. I like what Evans does with it a lot, in a brief but poignant reading.

All in all, this is an extremely solid, at times beautiful and moving musical document from late in Evans' career. I would highly recommend it for its beauty, challenge, and accessibility, three adjectives that could only meet in describing an artist of Evans' caliber and genius. It may not be the best from this period (the live albums "The Tokyo Concert" and "Since We Met" are a notch higher) but that only underscores Evans' tremendously high potential on live dates. Buy this and the other two and choose how carefully and deeply you wish to listen, because it stands up on all levels. July 2, 2006

surprise!

I was surprised at how beautiful the sound of this one particular set is put together.

There is a care and gentle beauty to this set that is so sorely missing in much of today's improvisational music.

Bill truly developed a most individual sound throughout his extensive career. March 12, 2006

Beautiful Stuff

"I Will Say Goodbye" was Bill Evans' final trio session for Fantasy Records in 1977, and it contains some of his most tender and beautiful playing. Of particular note is a lovely performance of the Bacharach ballad "A House Is Not A Home", probably the best jazz rendition of a Burt B. tune I've ever heard (and I've heard a lot of them for some reason!) Herbie Hancock's "Dolphin Dance" seamlessly leads into "Seascape". The jaunty bonus track "Orson's Theme" is a welcome addition to round out this release. And both takes of the bittersweet "I Will Say Goodbye" are gorgeous. If you love Evans' WB alubm "You Must Believe In Spring" (and how couldn't you?) you'll find "I Will Say Goodbye" to be a perfect companion. February 28, 2001

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