Bill Evans Complete Fantasy Recordings (1973-1980) CD

Digitally remastered by Kirk Felton (Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California).

The late Bill Evans was surely one of the finest jazz pianists ever. Few artists of any genre could match the level of quality-with-quantity of this legendary musician. Evans was not only the consummate jazz pianist, with incredible technique (classical pianist Glenn Gould admired him) and legendary lyricism, but a quiet innovator as well. There probably isn't a jazz pianist that values lyrical, swinging qualities that doesn't have a bit of Evans in him or her.

This nine-CD set collects all the recordings for the Fantasy label--a time period ranging from 1973 through 1978. The tracks feature Evans unaccompanied, in duo, trio and rarely-heard quintet formats, as well as the complete album he did in 1975 with Tony Bennet. This is a superb collection of some of the best piano jazz recorded not only in the '70s, but in the history of the music. Jazz fans and fans of good piano (any genre) should save up for this one.

Includes liner notes by Gene Lees and Helen Keane.

BILL EVANS: THE COMPLETE FANTASY RECORDINGS contains material recorded for Fantasy between 1973 and 1979, closely preceding his untimely death in 1980. Over 10 and-a-half hours of club, concert and studio recordings, plus a previously unreleased 1976 Paris concert. Disc 9 is an hour-long interview done by Marian McPartland for National Public Radio in 1978 with Bill at the piano. This set comes with a 32 page booklet with an essay by Gene Lees, notes on the sessions by Helen Keane and photos of Evans during the 70s.

Personnel: Bill Evans (piano); Tony Bennett (vocals); Lee Konitz (alto saxophone); Warne Marsh, Harold Land (tenor saxophone); Kenny Burrell (guitar); Eddie Gomez, Ray Brown (bass); Marty Morrell, Philly Joe Jones, Eliot Zigmund (drums).

Producers: Helen Keane, Orrin Keepnews, Andre Francis, Dick Phipps.

Compilation producer: Helen Keane.

Engineers include: Kenchi Handa, Jim Stern, Michael De Lugg.