Sunday At The Village Vanguard

OK -- you've made your move on the couch, Miles Davis Kind of Blue has just played out but she's just getting warmed up, so what now? You gonna say "excuse me for just a second, don't go anywhere", go put on this record, and resume the snogging.

I have always found Bill Evans to sound like "falling down" -- the sun falling down, the rain falling down, the snow falling down. What makes the Trio so transcendent is the dialogue between piano and bass with the percussion actually guiding the journey.

It's tempting to dismiss Sunday At The Village Vanguard as safe, geriatric and boring, the sort of music you would expect to hear in an upscale hotel lobby bar. But that isn't really fair--the album deserves a closer listen. In most popular (as distinguished from classical) improvisatory music, the function of the rhythm section is to lay down a groove, keep time, and provide a rhythmic and harmonic structure for the soloist to blow over. Bill Evans has had a lot of trios over the years, but this is probably the first one in which each member of the trio could and was expected to fluidly take on any role: time keeping, harmony, soloing, holding down a groove or pulse, etc. This required intense listening from all the members of the trio and is actually very difficult to do well. A close listen will reveal that the trio is communicating almost telepathically, and that the playing is exquisite, which accounts for the legendary status of this album, especially among jazz buffs. That said, if you aren't willing to put in the effort to intensively listen to this music, it will most likely come across as safe, geriatric and boring. That is why I actually prefer other recordings of the Bill Evans Trio, especially Turn Out The Stars, which was recorded shortly before Evans died. Evans pours his heart and soul into those performances with unmatched ferocity, knowing he didn't have long to live. So, how to rate Sunday At The Village Vanguard? Well, for what Evans was going for, it's pretty much perfection, an easy 5/5. However, I have to be honest--I don't really enjoy listening to it that much.

I listened to this 8 times yesterday, and will do so again today. This is like the jazz album you wanted to discover to help you get a better understanding. Backstory is amazing, it's just incredible brass free jazz.

Unexpectedly easy listening, super accessible and engaging. The live format works well, love the chatter and glass clinking. Even though the band's namesake is on Piano I thought the bass was way more impressive. Has got to be the world's most undercover drummer; he's somehow always there but never there. Would definitely benefit from several more listens. All Of You is the highlight. Although lots of the stuff from this era is difficult to relate to and tempting to dismiss, this exercise has made interesting to imagine what it would've sounded like to me in the context of that time in space. Also have been dishing out lots of five stars lately.

One of the first albums I listened to when getting into jazz. Amazing brassless jazz album. Just a piano, drums and bass and it sounds great.

One of the more remarkable displays of virtuosity you're going to hear. Not from headliner and reluctant cover-boy Bill Evans, but by upright bassist Scott LaFaro. He bounds all the way across the fingerboard playing counters and solos, yet never loses sight of the melody. Evans leads incredibly well from his piano, and very selflessly. His sense of timing and dynamics on album closer (and LaFaro composed) Jade Visions brought me to tears. They clearly knew how to get the best from each other. The Stereo image on the recording is impeccable, capturing every nuance of the players and the club. If there was any downside, it's that I'm often left wanting the drums to do more, aside from the welcome solo on All of You (Take 2). Maybe it's the inner rock-child that still lives inside me, but sometimes there is such a thing as too tasteful. Today's the first time I've heard this trio and any of its member play, and I'm already crushed this was the final time they had a chance to. Scott LaFaro died in a car accident soon after. I couldn't think of any better tribute. PSA to anyone listening on Spotify: The bonus tracks have been mixed in with the originals, following straight after the preferred take. The correct track listing should be: "Gloria's Step" (take 2) – 6:09 "My Man's Gone Now" – 6:21 "Solar" – 8:52 "Alice in Wonderland" (take 2) – 8:34 "All of You" (take 2) – 8:17 "Jade Visions" (take 2) – 3:44

I have no doubt this is a quality jazz album, but sheesh I nearly fell asleep. The very long bass solo in Solar is just too much for me to handle. I can’t take it. Not enough excitement. This is the background music at a cocktail hour not a concert for which I would want to pay money.

J'ai demandé à Robert Dimery ce que faisait cet album dans la liste des 1001 et il m'a très rapidement répondu (Robert et moi sommes très proches) qu'il voulait à la base ajouter un autre album mais a cliqué sans le faire exprès sur une playlist appelée "3 hours jazz chillax music" et l'a insérée dans les 1001. Robert est quelqu'un d'extrêmement tête en l'air.

Fine jazz, not what I would choose to listen to though.

Culture has been cruel to impressionistic music. Whether Debussy or Evans, once innovative theorising and playing has become background listening, never definite, but just an impression. When it is difficult to grasp the melody, you only get a sense of it and a sense of the harmony and a sense of the structure. Such washiness sounds like a Sunday - lounging, lazing, lacking the structure of the rest of the week. Perhaps there is nominal determinism at play here. No doubt, a keener ear, better acquainted with jazz, may hear more structure, more melody, more direction. However, for me, it is all hard to distinguish behind the gentle murmurs and clapping, not because they are undeserved, but because the balance between the artist and audience is exactly the same as between diners and café background playlist. Sunday brunchtime probably. I don't enjoy writing any of that - the drums sounds great in parts; the bassist is ; Evans is obviously an exemplary pianist - but so what. 1.5 This is nonsense. Sure it‘s not *really* nonsense but… This is a closed shop. What is the particular brilliance of Bill Evans‘ ‘touch’ as a pianist to those who don’t play piano or listen religiously to recordings of piano players? What is a key recording in the history of the development of modal jazz to those who wouldn’t know Lydian from Adam? What is a watershed moment in the democratisation of the jazz trio to those who have heard less than three of them in their whole life - and didn’t (and couldn’t) pay close attention to their music even at that. The answer is, as most of the people present (and audible!) when this recording was made clearly knew, that the only thing this music really offers most of us is something pleasant to ignore while we chat to each other and get bluttered on a Sunday afternoon. Well it’s Tuesday and I’m sober. Even worse - yesterday we had a Sam Cooke Live record from the same era and it was everything this show wasn’t - a document of music-making that was irresistibly social; not just acknowledging of an audience but dragging them into participation and responding to their energy in turn. Humans, together, instinctively grasping the inexplicable power of music. That was worth recording for posterity - this wasn’t. This was worth recording for students of Jazz. Good luck to those students. 1/5

Absolute classic, incredible from start to finish.

A jazz album worthy of some serious superlatives. Blissful stuff from open to close. I am a sucker for Alice in Wonderland; this nearly gets 5 starts just for that track.

Just another jazz album, nothing dreadful.

Left me brassless

Les voy a ser franco y honesto: es demasiado refinado para mí. Los barriobajeros no escuchamos este tipo de obras maestras.

Music can serve as a rush or atmosphere, this is all atmosphere and it’s amazing. Excellent. The deep background conversation noise really adds something. Excellent, jumping off point

Admittedly, I'm not a very sophisticated jazz appreciator; however, this seemed almost featureless, with only parts of "Alice In Wonderland" eliciting a knowing stroke of the chin. Harsh 2*

Would have been nice background in a piano bar. Wasn't that great to have on whilst working.

meeh

What a great record. The playing is top notch. You can be floored by this group or you can put it on as background music. That is not an easy accomplishment. I'll keep this one in rotation for killer laid back jazz. Really glad to have heard this

My jazz preferences sit in the seething demented and transcendental ecstatic sectors (late Coltrane goes down well), so this is just too plain nice to live long with me. But it is rather nice.

A gorgeous stroll with people who make you smile and laugh through a bustling city in winter.

Classic jazz instrumental Good for background

Superb!

THIS ALBUM IS GOATED 10/10

Nice background music. I don't think I have ever heard of Bill Evan's, this is one that I will throw on for a dinner party or to just have something on. A nice collection of Jazz. Talented!

I love this album -- an amazing trio giving all three guys room to show how accomplished they were. So sad that the bassist died 11 days later in a car accident.

The bones of jazz. Great to listen to as background music 🎶

Masterpiece

Really good. Not a jazz guy but the skill is there. It is also more approachable than a lot of jazz but not fading into the background.

Beautiful chemistry between these three. One of Scott La Faro's last recordings. Bill's voicings and phrasings in this performance are masterful.

sophisticated focus music, great for work

5/5 - Excellent

Nice.

Phenomenal Jazz Classic, great recording

Not much into jazz, but you listen to this, you understand what makes jazz special. Phenomenal musicianship

A stunner. Loved every second. Absolutely beautiful

SO GOOD.

Smooth, calm, relaxing

This was extremely pleasant background music for the stuff I was doing around the house. I was a little leery because sometimes I find the improv parts of jazz to be annoying, but this combination of instruments and chill sound worked well for me.

What a great album! Very soothing jazz.

Enjoyed this.

Sunday at the Village Vanguard Lovely stuff. While I’ve enjoyed a lot of the horn led Jazz recently, this piano trio sort of thing is what I thought I might like when we started the list, and so it is. There are a few taking the bassline for a walk and keeping the cymbals splashy moments, but whereas previously they would have chafed, now I find them increasingly pleasant, and the interplay between the three instruments really is quite incredible, the lead swapping between bass and piano, and some excellent drumming peeking out from between the gaps. It may not be as frenzied or as experimental as some other albums we’ve had, it also steers clear of the hotel lobby jazz inflection we sometimes get. To my ears there’s an unpretentious (for Jazz) sensibility to it, there’s plenty of skill and virtuosity of course, but in a tasteful and thoughtful way. The piano of My Man’s Gone Now winds its way through the song beautifully and expressively and it is a superb piece of music. Solar is a nice counterpoint, uptempo and more overtly jazzy but with some incredible piano runs and superb bass. Jade Visions is lovely too, a lovely, melancholic mellowness to it, especially as it was written by the bassist, who died shortly after this was recorded. I liked this from the off and it got better with each listen, and similar to some of the dance albums like Leftfield or Orbital it works both in the background and as a more immersive listen, picking out little bass and piano runs and getting lost in the feel of it. I think it's a high 4, as there is a little bit of uniformity of sound and style at the start of side 2, but it’s something I’m looking forward to coming back to, to fill a laid back jazz hole that Bitches Brew doesn’t. Nice. 🎹🎹🎹🎹 Playlist submission: My Man’s Gone Now

Really nice find. Like a Christmas present that someone forgot to give you - total surprise. Wish this list had more of these little gems...

carai, que BAIXARIA (rá) esse aqui. o cara largano o dedo no contrabaixão memo, foda-se. bonito demais. bonita homenagem pro contrabaixista, btw. só pedrada.

i was pretty satisfied with every song on this album and liked them all however i dont think i was thrilled enough by it to call it a 5 star album but i will happily rate it a 4

I want to listen to this in front of a log fire in a comfy chair drinking good whisky with a few friends.

Nr. 143/1001 Gloria's Step Take 2 3/5 Gloria's Step Take 3 3/5 My Man's Gone Now 3/5 Solar 3/5 Alice In Wonderland Take 2 3/5 Alice In Wonderland Take 1 3/5 All Of You Take 2 3/5 All Of You Take 3 3/5 Jade Visions Take 2 3/5 Jade Visions Take 1 3/5 Average: 3,0 It's okay I guess, but not something I would ever listen to actively. Maybe as background music.

Very cool and relaxing. Alice In Wonderland does certainly capture your attention for a moment.

I realised something masterful was afoot when I noticed these dainties weren't only sighing and swaying but giggling and winking at me too.

Its elevator music, but really good elevator music. Bill Evans is obviously the focal point on piano, but the dude playing bass was on some other shit. I enjoyed this music best when I focused on the bass and let the drums and piano just kinda fade a bit into the backround. Like all jazz I definitely recommend good headphones/speakers

I enjoy the sound of these instruments but musicwise I need a bit more of an actual song. Some motifs that they riff on a recognisable tune they are playing around. But this collection just felt like a bunch of long jams with no sensible grounding. It was strange to listen to an album, described as one of the best live jazz albums and just hear the audience talking over it. Jazz people are weird. It's just not for me, but it didn't leave me upset or anything.

Live jazz is best enjoyed live.

not really my genre of music but nice nonetheless

This is the kind of jazz I can listen to all day.

Definitely a 5 star album, fit my workflow and mood perfectly today. I really like the casual dinner sounds in the background too, glasses clinking, etc. Really soothing and relaxing.

Perfect live jazz album. This trio is on fire. Scott LaFaro plays the hell out of that bass. Paul Motian has amazing feel. Bill Evans is genius. 5 stars.

Great upbeat jazz esque instrumental

Very nice sound. Good for a critical listen and in the background

I have often considered Miles Davis's Kind of Blue one of my all time favourite (jazz) albums. It's definitely the album that got me in to jazz music and the standard I hold other jazz albums too. It's also how I learned about some of the other masters of jazz: Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley who played on Kind of Blue. While I knew Bill Evans' name as one of the other core contributors to that album I have never actually listed to more of his music. It's clear form Sunday at the Village that Evans contribution to Kind of Blue was super substantial. This album is soo smooth, refined and subtly perfect, I wish I had discovered it sooner. There is everything you need in a jazz album and absolutely nothing more. It will definitely find a place in my smooth jazz catalogue and I look forward to checking out more of Bill Evans music.

The atmosphere on this album is incredible and all three of them are next level musicians! While Bill Evans is obviously masterful on the piano, his smooth jazz style of piano playing doesn't really excite me all that much. It's very pleasant and there's nothing I truly dislike about it, it just doesn't really stand out to me, which isn't necessarily a bad thing as it leaves a lot of space for me to appreciate the other musicians in the trio. The drumming by Paul Motian on the other hand stands out by being perfectly present and in sync with the music, but never quite taking over. He's always there keeping time, but seems to fade in and out of the tracks with ease to suit the direction of the music; he gets louder when he's needed to be louder and quieter when he's needed to be quieter. Not to mention, he's just a great drummer and I absolutely love jazz drumming. The real stand out on the album is the bass playing by Scott LaFaro. Some of the best bass playing I've heard on a jazz album and I was surprised how much focus the album had on him. That is until I read the Wikipedia afterwards and learned about his tragic death 11 days after these sessions. The tracks were reportedly selected to best feature LaFaro's playing and it absolutely shows.

Amazing jazz album, worth listening too again

Great modal album, maybe one of the best after Kind of Blue, however it requires a very specific mood, one alike to the Nighthawks painting, but absolutely insufferable on an upbeat mood

Classic.

I really enjoyed this classic album. It was really relaxing to listen as I drove to work. 5/5

I'm not nearly smart enough to know why, but this was blissful

Smarter and more articulate people than me have spoken at length about what makes jazz good or not good. I've got nothing to add I think its great.

I lament the fact that I am listening to this at work. My headphones are noise-cancelling and spotify has lossless audio quality but this is the sort of album I should really be listening to at home on vinyl or live. The album is without flaw, I often fail to find words to describe why I enjoy or dislike Jazz albums. For this one all I can say is that it is truly tragic that Scott LaFaro passed away only days after this was recorded. The bass on My Man's Gone Now was a real highlight of this album. Not that it has any weighing upon the final score but it is always a pleasure to listen to an album whose artist's Wikipedia page is a wild ride.

Bike to school

Such a great Jazz album. I love that it's live, I love that there are multiple takes. I love hearing the dishes clink and people clap. It really transports you to a different place and time. I only wish I could have experienced it live. This is just the most perfect relaxing dinner Jazz album and I love it.

I'm a big fan of this album. Ideal listening while cooking for Thanksgiving. The musical choices all feel very tasteful and clean, while also being expressive and creative. Bill Evans on the piano is lovely, and the bass and drums also shine throughout the set. I love this style of jazz - it feels comforting to me. 9/10.

This is the perfect soundtrack to complete your annual self review to. You’ll realize you have learned a lot and you are proud of yourself and it’s okay that you wish you didn’t have this job… now you can see the multi-faceted ways you’ve grown as a person because you have both this obligation and your dreams hanging in the balance, which actually creates a weird symbiosis And it’s okay to want fish and a jazz date with Coco. A fishy jazz date with Coco. Five stars!

I love drinking coffee and listening to jazz and thinking about the way the light hits the trees and feeling content in just experiencing that moment

One of my favourite jazz albums of all time. Iconic opener.

Incredible jazz album

Easy 5 for me. I love the performances, the live recording and the mix. Musical scientists doing their work. Classic and necessary listening.

so good. Loved it.

So simple but also fantastic. I can see why this could be considered the peak of the genre.

This album helps you realize and appreciate just how much beauty you can make with just 3 instruments. No brass, no woodwinds, just piano, bass and drums. And it provides every bit of an intricate and emotional experience.

I will not include the bonus takes in this review. Bill Evans was a legendary jazz pianist who influenced the harmonic language of his instrument. He studied classical music before moving to New York City to work with the likes of bandleader George Russell and Miles Davis. In fact, Evans was part of Davis's sextet when the latter recorded Kind of Blue, an album I thoroughly enjoyed a couple of months ago on my album journey. Shortly after those sessions, Evans left Davis's group to begin his career as a leader, forming a jazz trio with bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian. The three of them would work across both traditional jazz standards and original compositions, with an added emphasis on interplay among themselves. This musical kinship spanned over two studio albums and two live albums recorded at the Village Vanguard jazz club in New York City, only to be cut short by LaFaro's tragic death in a car accident. For as much as Sunday at the Village Vanguard is billed as a performance of Bill Evans and his trio, the track selections for this record were deliberately made by Evans as a tribute to LaFaro. Not only is this record bookended with two of Lafaro's striking original compositions, "Gloria's Step" (Take 2) and "Jade Visions" (Take 2), but the rest of the chosen covers were the best showcase of the young prodigy's eclectic soloing and countermelodic basslines. That's not to say Evans took a backseat; rather, the three of them played well off each other in such synchronicity. Evans made the most out of his block chords and modal inflections, and Paul Motian effectively utilized drum brushes on the quieter moments while modulating towards thunderous bombast on cuts like Miles Davis's "Solar" and the sprawling take on Sammy Fain's theme for the Alice in Wonderland film. Would it have been nice to have had the entire Village Vanguard performance packaged in one album? Sure, it would have. But as a curated experience of what was considered the brightest and best of Bill Evans's short-lived trio, I'd say this record hits it out of the park.

My favorite yet.

Love this type of jazz. Great. Can listen to it for hours.

Surprisingly relaxing. Enjoyed every minute of this.

Loved this album. The bassist is phenomenal and the drummer brings personality to drive the songs with interesting fills and beats. Great pianist with some upbeat / chill tunes. Enjoyed this with a warm apple tea at work during one of the first days of the fall season while it rained outside in NYC. Absolutely beautiful album.

ahhhh-this was a great one to have on in the background. loved the piano. just wish it was about 15-20 minutes shorter. still, great listen.

Never really a jazz fan, but all that has changed with this album

Unbelievably great album!!

A classic! The only sad thing is that the bassist died soon after, and we can only wonder what else they may have produced.

This is awesome. Could listen for 100 hours straight. Really interesting back story with the bassist. Makes me want to go to a jazz club.

jade visions is the stand out track, overall everything is very solid though.

Phenominal live jazz album with some incredible bass playing throughout. Bill Evans sets a really good vibe on his records. Liked this one a lot and see myself not only playing it again in the future, but securing a copy on vinyl so I can hear how it is really meant to be played. 9/10

I’m not a jazz fan, but this is good stuff if you are

Sounds like autumn. Not ready for this album on a sunny day in August

obligatory 10/10 for jazz

Jazz albums always remind me of the UNO! soundtrack. 9/10

This was a fantastic album!

Jazz is always good.

Some albums I know will be a 1 for me by the time I get to the 2nd song, this album I knew would be a 5.

Nice to throw on for either active or passive listening. The ambience is great, and the mastering really sells it.