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Artist: Bill Evans Trio
Title: Consecration (8 Disc Boxed Set)
Genre: Jazz
Label: Milestone
Website: www.fantasyjazz.com
Captured live at the Keystone Corner in San Francisco from August 31 to September 7, 1980, "Consecration," which is the sister set to the previously released "The Last Waltz" (2000), is a generous selection of Bill Evans' enormous catalog of compositions. With different nuances and improvisations available on each set, many of Bill Evans' most treasured compositions delighted his audiences on these historical nights in the history of jazz music. The incredibly durable Evans was gravely ill at the time and would pass away one week later in New York.
You may think that this is overkill and that many of the same songs would lend itself to boredom and repetition for the listener, this is not so. I found it amazing that this never once happened while listening to all eight discs.
Bill Evans (piano), Marc Johnson (bass), and Joe Labarbera (drums) were one of the most revolutionary and forward thinking jazz trios to play onstage or in the studio. It is not difficult to realize this once you have heard the first two sets. Evans' partners in music could not understand how he could have been at a creative peak when he was physically devastated after years of substance abuse. Bill knew he was going to die and so did everyone else, thus there were mixed emotions amongst the band. Regardless of this intense emotion, they all seemed to funnel that energy and feeling into the music beautifully. Evans bounced back and forth from upbeat contemporary jazz improvisations to classically influenced ivory tinkling, while Labarbera and Johnson would inexplicably weave their instruments into his layers of keyboard intelligence. The sturdy rhythm section was always ready for the changes and paces that Evans would lead them through. Evans is comparable to Segovia in the way he shaped and molded two genres into his own special sound.
While I can empathize with Evans and the insidious disease he suffered from, as I am a recovery addict, I do not sympathize. It is unfortunate that such a beautiful person with so many gifts to offer had so much inner turmoil, and invariably would destroy himself. He left us a lot of music to digest and to remember him by for eternity.
This music was once a high priced collector's item only issued in Japan, it is now finally available for all jazz lovers to enjoy. I feel honored and privileged to have enjoyed this wonderful listening experience by the grand maestro of the piano Bill Evans, and I am most certain you will appreciate it as well.
© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck-http://www.muzikreviews.com
September 20, 2002
Disc 1
1. Re: Person I Knew
2. Tiffany
3. My Foolish Heart
4. Song From M*A*S*H (Suicide Is Painless)
5. Knit for Mary F.
6. Days of Wine and Roses
7. Your Story
8. The Two Lonely People
9. My Romance
Total Time-63:57
Disc 2
10. Tiffany
11. Polka Dots and Moonbeams
12. Like Someone in Love
13. Letter to Evan
14. Gary's Theme
15. Days of Wine and Roses
16. I Do It for Your Love
17. My Romance
Total Time-62:38
Disc 3
18. Re: Person I
19. Tiffany
20. Knit for Mary F.
21. Like Someone in Love
22. Your Story
23. Someday My Prince Will Come
24. I Do It for Your Love
25. My Romance
Total Time-53:22
Disc 4
26. Re: Person I
27. Tiffany
28. Polka Dots and Moonbeams
29. Song From M*A*S*H (Suicide Is Painless)
30. Your Story
31. Like Someone in Love
32. Knit for Mary F.
33. The Two Lonely People
34. My Romance
Total Time-59:30
Disc 5
35. Up With the Lark
36. Mornin' Glory
37. Polka Dots and Moonbeams
38. Like Someone in Love
39. Turn Out the Stars
40. Your Story
41. Emily
42. I Do It for Your Love
43. My Romance
Total Time-59:00
Disc 6
44. Re: Person I Knew
45. Tiffany
46. Knit for Mary F.
47. My Foolish Heart
48. Who Can I Turn To
49. Emily
50. Laurie
51. You and the Night and the Music
Total Time-47:34
Disc 7
52. Re: Person I Knew
53. Laurie
54. Bill's Hit Tune
55. The Two Lonely People
56. Song From M*A*S*H (Suicide Is Painless)
57. My Foolish Heart
58. Days of Wine and Roses
59. But Beautiful
Total Time-47:14
Disc 8
60. Emily
61. Polka Dots and Moonbeams
62. Like Someone in Love
63. Your Story
64. Days of Wine and Roses
65. Knit for Mary F.
66. Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)
67. I Do It for Your Love
68. My Romance
Total Time-56:31
Rating-5/5
Credits:
Bill Evans - Piano
Marc Johnson - Bass
Joe Labarbera - Drums
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