Evans,Bill 12 Classic Albums: 1956-62 CD

Bill Evans is widely considered to be one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time. Evans' use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, block chords, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines continue to resonate today. Born in Plainfield, New Jersey on 16 August 1929, Evans was classically trained and studied at Southeastern Louisiana University. In 1955 he moved to New York, where he worked with bandleader and theorist George Russell. In 1958, Evans joined Miles Davis' sextet, where he was to have a profound influence. In 1959, the band, then immersed in modal jazz, recorded Kind of Blue, the best-selling jazz album of all time. In late 1959, Evans left the Miles Davis band and began his career as a leader with Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian, a group now regarded as a seminal modern jazz trio. In 1961, ten days after recording the highly acclaimed Sunday at the Village Vanguard and Waltz for Debby, LaFaro died in a car accident. After months of seclusion, Evans re-emerged with a new trio, featuring bassist Chuck Israels. Despite his success, Evans suffered personal loss and struggled with drug abuse. Both his girlfriend Elaine and his brother Harry committed suicide, and he was a long time user of heroin. Many of his compositions have become standards and have been played and recorded by many artists. Evans was honored with 31 Grammy nominations and seven awards, and was inducted in the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame. This compilation contains Evans' first 12 albums as leader covering the years 1956 - when he recorded and released his debut record New Jazz Conceptions featuring the original version of his most covered track 'Waltz For Debby' - through to his seminal Empathy album in 1962. Generally considered in jazz circles as the period in which Evans' star shone brightest and the era of his finest work, this 6CD set is as close to the perfect Bill Evans collection as is currently available.

1. I Love You 2. Five 3. I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good 4. Conception 5. Easy Living 6. Displacement 7. Speak Low 8. Waltz for Debby 9. Our Delight 10. My Romance 11. No Cover, No Minimum 12. Minority 13. Young and Foolish 14. Lucky to Be Me 15. Night and Day 16. Peace Piece 17. What Is There to Say 18. Epilogue 19. Honeysuckle Rose 20. As Time Goes By 21. The Way You Look Tonight 22. It Could Happen to You 23. The Man I Love 24. I Got Rhythm 25. Come Rain or Come Shine 26. Autumn Leaves 27. Witchcraft 28. Peri's Scope 29. What Is This Thing Called Love 30. Spring Is Here 31. Someday My Prince Will Come 32. Blue in Green 33. Israel 34. Haunted House 35. Beautiful Love 36. Elsa 37. Nardis 38. How Deep Is the Ocean 39. I Wish I Knew 40. Sweet and Lovely 41. Gloria's Step 42. My Man's Gone Now 43. Solar 44. Alice in Wonderland 45. All of You 46. Jade Visions 47. My Foolish Heart 48. Waltz for Debby 49. Detour Ahead 50. My Romance 51. Some Other Time 52. Milestones 53. My Funny Valentine 54. I Hear a Rhapsody 55. Dream Gypsy 56. Romain 57. Skating in Central Park 58. Darn That Dream 59. Re: Person I Knew 60. Polka Dots and Moonbeams 61. Let's Fall in Love Too Easily 62. Stairway to the Stars 63. If You Could See Me Now 64. It Might As Well Be Spring 65. In Love in Vain 66. Very Early 67. You and the Night and the Music 68. When You Wish Upon a Star 69. I'll Never Smile Again 70. Interplay 71. You Go to My Head 72. Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams 73. The Washington Twist 74. Danny Boy 75. Let's Go Back to the Waltz 76. With a Song in My Heart 77. Goodbye 78. I Believe in You 79. How My Heart Sings 80. I Should Care 81. In Your Own Sweet Way 82. Walking Up 83. Summertime 84. 34 Skidoo 85. Ev'rything I Love 86. Show-Type Tune