Bill Evans Trio - Israel / Five (theme) - 19 Mar 65 (5 of 11) video free download

London, March 19, 1965

Personnel:

Bill Evans - p

Chuck Israels - b

Larry Bunker - d

Set:

Part I

Five (theme)

Elsa

Summertime

Come Rain Or Come Shine

My Foolish Heart

Re: Person I Knew

Israel

Five (theme)

Part II

Five (theme)

How My Heart Sings

Nardis

Who Can I Turn To?

Some Day My Prince Will Come

How Deep Is The Ocean?

Waltz For Debby

Notes:

"Israel" is a minor-blues tune written by the American jazz trumpeter John Carisi. Recorded by the Miles Davis Nonet during its "Birth of The Cool" sessions in 1949/1950. Evans' studio version can be found on the album TRIO '65, with the same line-up as here.

This is the third incarnation of Bill Evans' great '60s piano trios, playing at a very high level. Chuck Israels' bass work, in particular, is nothing short of virtuosic. His playing shows the influence of Scott LaFaro -- especially in his use of counterpoint -- but he's supremely inventive.

Background:

Evans' first (and greatest) trio featured the irreplaceable Scott LaFaro on double bass and Paul Motian on drums. After LaFaro's tragic death in a car accident in 1961 (at age 25), Evans was so overcome with grief that he didn't play again publicly for almost a year. In early '62, he reformed his trio and hired Chuck Israels to replace LaFaro. Motian departed the trio in 1964, and was replaced by Larry Bunker.

If you're interested in hearing the greatest of all piano trios, here are the CDs to buy:

PORTRAIT IN JAZZ (1959)

EXPLORATIONS (1961)

THE COMPLETE VILLAGE VANGUARD RECORDINGS, 1961 (3-CDs representing the trio's complete five sets at the Village Vanguard on Sunday, June 25, 1961, 11 days before LaFaro's death).