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.

Track List

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