Sunday At The Village Vanguard

Absolutely beautiful sounding for a live jazz album. Gets better as it moves forward.

Jazz like this has a place but it's not in my ears

9 Times out of 10 live albums suck. This is that 1/10 time it doesn't. This just sounds like a jazz album recorded in a studio (barring one or two tracks that end in applause) This is like coffee house jazz, but I still enjoy it quite a bit. Really a pretty good jazz album all around. It isn't the exact subgenre of jazz I like the most, but it is still really good. I'm feeling a solid to strong 4/5 on this one.

Not all jazz is good jazz. Too uncohesive for me.

A friend put it well - they’re not playing for the audience, but for themselves. That’s admirable but I get lost in the fray.

It sounded like 2 people clapping at the end of each live recording. 2 very bored stars.

Besides being the right album for me today, this was another example of things I have learned to love about jazz through this project. This trio melded together perfectly while flowing in a way that felt absolutely free but obviously wasn't. I loved the whole thing.

Although I have grown (both just through the years of life and with this project) to appreciate music from the jazz genre, this particular trio style still doesn’t thrill me. It makes for fine background music, like at a fancy dinner, but as the focus, it left me wanting. Maybe I needed the setting of a jazz club to make it sing to me today.

Fine background music. Not much really caught my attention though. I wanted to like it more than I did.

This is the noodly sort of thing that I stereotypically associate with jazz in my mind. I enjoyed having it on although I didn’t totally connect with it. Maybe not my favorite of the jazz I’ve heard on this project, but I enjoyed it quite a bit!

Jazz

Solid. High 3+.

Incredible jazz ensemble

Better off spending Sunday at church under the steady gaze of the blessed sweet little blue eyed baby Jesus. Nah, it's fine. I'm not a jazz guy but I s'pose I'd throw this on in the event that it seemed like a time to throw on some jazz.

Some say the bass is still walking.

Ok

Parfait en ambiance sonore pour faire autre chose.

Rollo patatero.

20 years ago, I took a history of jazz class. When I learned from that, was that I don't like jazz. 20 years later I still don't.

I put it on while working as background. It was fine. Not my vibe. I just am not a jazz person. At least it didn’t give me anxiety like most jazz.

pleasant but not really gonna draw me back. could i write poetry to it? no

Good rainy day music

Before listening to this album my only exposure to Bill Evans before this was his work on Kind of Blue and I think he performed incredibly on that album. So coming into this I was pretty confident it would be great and it was. The piano understandably was the star of the show as Evans is the pianist but LaFaro and Motian aren't slouches themselves. Specifically Motian on "Gloria's Step" played great and was really stand out as well as LaFaro on . This album was at both times smooth while also not falling into the trap of being so smooth that it feels like being fed baby food like a Kenny G album. It is still takes risks and they play enticing songs that are well composed. I really like the first track, "Gloria's Step", because it allowed all three of them to be the main center of attention at different times in the piece and none of them miss a beat as their all great. I like that the second track was taken in a much slower pace and it provides great contrast to the first which speeds up near the end. Throughout the album one thing that is a constant is how well practiced the trio seems. Their instruments meld together just as well as in any other albums I have heard. "My Man's Gone Now" is played incredibly as well and is a much more emotional track than the first. One thing that caught me off guard in this album is the crowd noise. It was so quiet compared to any other live album I have heard that when I heard a voice say something I literally turned around thinking one of my roommates was trying to talk to me. Unsurprisingly "Solar" is an amazing track. When you have a song composed by Miles Davis and Chuck Wayne it is sort of hard to be bad. Here I think that LaFaro absolutely steals the show with his bass. This is largely due to the fact that it was just him and Motian playing but LaFaro is allowed the spotlight and capitalizes on the opportunity. Also Motian at the end ramps up his drumming and it is great. "Alice in Wonderland" is obviously the theme for the Disney movie. I had heard it before in the movie but never in as focused a manor as it is performed on this album. I think that this song is another example of what this album excels at which is keeping the listener captivated by playing really well arranged songs while also not being too obvious. This is a really well composed tracks with movements that are completely evoke completely different emotions. It starts out in a very dreamy, floaty sound that progress to a punchy, loud, hectic movement that is such a clear allegory for the story that gives this song its name. It then slowly comes back down to softer tones at the end which makes this song feel very rounded and cyclical. I think it is probably the best song on the album imo. "All of You" is a much softer, more romantic track that to me evokes images of old romance movies. It feels like it is the score of a movie about a young couple falling in love over a summer with the section with no piano being the tumultuous breakup that is resolved at the end, (turns out it was written for a romantic musical so I am kinda close). The shortest track on the album is the final song "Jade Visions". This one feels like an more smoky, mature version of the previous song. It feels like a song from the soundtrack to a romance movie closer to that of Casablanca. It is a really good send off for this album and I think is probably the most expressive of the tracks on this album. One other note for pretty much all the songs on this album is the way that Motian's cymbal sounds is absolutely enchanting. I don't know if I have heard a cymbal used this effectively on a jazz album. All in all this is one of the best jazz albums I have ever heard and is probably the best live album I have heard outside of Live at the Apollo and Live At the Harlem Square Club though I have not heard that many of them due to my usual aversion to live albums (like I don't think I have heard Live at Folsom Prison which alongside a bunch of others would probably be just as good if not better). A strong 9.5-10/10.

4.5 rounding down starting to think im a sucker for jazz

I'm not classy enough to really jam out to this album. I can recognize the quality enough to enjoy it though.

pretty smooth in a good way. 4 stars.

It's jazzy! Yeah, my ear is too untrained to tell good and bad jazz, but this is enjoyable background music. So, like, a 2* for me? It was aight.

Really enjoyed this piano piece - calming and full of love. Favourite: Waltz For Debby

The performances on this album are great. The bass player is outstanding, and the standout was the solo on "Solar." However, this type of jazz borders on "elevator music," for me, and I don't find anything about the specific compositions to stand out and bring me back. Part of it may be the piano-focus, which is not as appealing to me as saxophone or even more bass or drum emphasis. However, I would revisit this album in the future while cooking or cleaning around the house.

Very nice listening music, great jazz album

amazing bass lines

A very smooth and highly listenable live recording. I learnt that the bassist on this album, Scott LaFaro, was one of the most influential jazz bassists of all time, who sadly died in a car accident 11 days after the concert. I’ll be listening to more Bill Evans in the future for sure.

The performances are so good I forgot it was a live album. It has a very rich sound despite only having three performers.

Really solid jazz music - just not my kind of jazz. There is some impressive musicianship happening on these live tracks. I think the instrumentation is neat considering all 3 of the instruments used are considered “rhythm section” instruments in most forms of jazz, but each act in many roles, including soloist, in this trio. All that being said, it’s just not where my heart lies when it comes to jazz style which is why I gotta give it a 3.

3/5 niceish, but not enough

Honestly, I could not tell you a single title on this album. However, it is comfortable and unostentatious jazz in a mellow timbre which begat much of the same. I would jump off it again.

I really enjoyed this aside from the bass solos. I know they’re technically impressive, but they just sound grating.

Good Jazz

Very soothing and easy to listen. I liked it but don’t think live records should be on this list…

ну это 1961 год, важно учитывать вайб обалденный

Wonderful album, looking forward to listening to more jazz

Very cool. Definitely up my alley in terms of jazz.

beautiful

The sort of live album that makes you feel like you’re in a cozy café on a rainy afternoon, nursing a coffee and enjoying some supremely talented musicians jamming together. Loose, improvisational and relaxing.

Piano y poco más instrumentos para interpretar canciones instrumentales sin que destaquen especialmente. Para muy de los que les guste el estilo

Obviously great musicianship, but not my cup of tea. I looked into the backstory of this album and the bass player died not long after it was recorded, which is a shame; what an amazing talent.

Great album with some phenomenal playing. Bass player was incredible and I’m glad everyone was able to follow tradition and get a nice conversation in during all the solos! Added zero, skipped none will have on in the background.

Everybody digs Bill Evans...Normally I'd object to such harsh panning (bass left, piano right); but this division brings both instruments into their own orbit with the drums occupying the space all around. I can focus on both throughout their wild flights of fancy. In spite of their distance, their worlds work well together. Really, I could listen to Bill Evans all damn day.

Amazing. Just unbelievable

Absolute gem. Great to listen to while reading.

Ég fíla djass, sérstaklega svona jam sessions og þessi plata er eiginlega bara eitt stórt jam session. Þannig að þetta var voða þægilegt og gott þótt ég gæti ekki sagt hvenær eitt lag endaði og annað byrjaði.

There's no doubt that this is excellence. You really cannot play these classics any better than the trio are both individually and collectively. But...I just can't give a rhythm section trio a perfect 5. Brass and woodwinds just add far too much to my enjoyment of jazz. This is probably the rating I regret the most thus far, but I have to be honest with myself here. I do take pride in having seen a show at this legendary venue though, and I am very glad to have it be coronated in this list.

Not too fan of jazz, especially when having to listen to 2 versions of the same one. I'm not proficient enough in "understanding jazz" to appreciate it.

Likely the best recorded album of the one of the best. You can so easily get lost in the music or any specific instrument.

Beautiful.

An excellent album. As great as Evans is, this is a showcase for the rhythm section of LeFaro and Motian. The interplay is something else, and it shows both how much jazz grew but also how much that key year of 1959 influenced everything that came after. Just two years later, this shows new directions while learning the lessons. An album you must hear.

Impressionistic jazz. So easy sounding and without a flat moment . Someone took it upon themselves to introduce me to jazz and made some mix tapes for me. It includes Bill Evans Trio, and Ella& Louis and others and that was it for me.... I had a base from which to explore

I first knew Bill Evans as the pianist in the Miles Davis Sextet that did Kinda Blue(1959), supposedly the best-selling jazz album of all time. He had started working with Miles in 1958, but had started his own trio by 1960, most notably with the line-up here. I always liked Evans’s playing. Waltz For Debby, which is on the extended cd release of this album, is a big favourite of mine. Nat Adderley once said that : "When he started to use Bill, Miles changed his style from very hard to a softer approach." and you can hear it on Miles’s early 60’s stuff, which I’ve always preferred over his 70’s jazz-fusion albums. Anyway, I really enjoyed this album, which I wasn’t familiar with. You can see why Evans was distraught when bassist Scott LaFaro died a matter of days after this recording. What a talent. As was/is usual with jazz artists, this live recording features versions of two standards, My Man’s Gone Now by Gershwin, from his opera Porgy & Bess & the beautiful All Of You, by Cole Porter, from his Broadway show Silk Stockings. I always enjoy hearing how much of the original melody survives when jazzmen get their hands on it. I can hear Porter but not Gershwin. But it’s irrelevant, really. This band was cooking on the Sunday afternoon in question.

Pleasant jazz trio. These days, this sound has been sooooo overplayed, it is just background music now. Is it Bill Evans' fault that the format he perfected here became the template for a thousand mediocre jazz trios, playing ever fading carbon copies of this same style for the next 60 years? This album has to be considered best in class for its type. Clearly, warmly and intimately recorded, with quiet audience atmospherics, the interplay between three players at the peak of their powers is tight and relatively focused. The tragic death of bass player Scott LaFaro in a car accident less than two weeks after this recording adds a melancholy note to this album. I respect Evans' decision to make this album a tribute to LaFaro, by giving him a featuring credit and including two of LaFaro's compositions and choosing tracks with significant bass solos. A touching tribute.

Jazz… ugh

Can't go wrong with Bill Evans. This is a solid live record from his trio. The bass solos are probably my favorite. A great balance of lush and intense. And of course Bill adds in those signature touches throughout that are so uniquely him.

Loved it, easy to listen to!

A five it is. Cozy, nostalgic, a little melancholy - it invokes memories and transports me to beloved times and places in the way only music can. I’ll be coming back to this one for sure.

Heg er sgu ikke så meget till jazz, men det her var helt ok. Kunne jeg godt lytte til igen.

Bill is a beauty as always, but this was a LaFaro tribute more than anything, and I love it for that. Perfect for this unexpectedly rainy day. This was staying at a very solid 4 for me, but the transcendent beauty of the simple final track Jade Visions bumped this just into 5 star territory; that's a new all-time favorite for me.

Slipped into the background a bit too much for me, but not bad.

Good jazz, I want to go to the Village Vanguard (didn't listen to all of it)

Jazz não é muito a minha praia.

Nice piano jazz, though in its nature, it is repetitive

I havent heard this before but do like the Bill Evans that I have listened to. This was an enjoyable listen of a very tight group.

Every song was kind of the same

Hell yeah. Nice chill tunes.

Loved it!

Great live album, didnt care for the multiple takes.

Quite a miserable listening experience. It sounds like Jazz x Jazz for Jazz musicians. Continuous atonal wankery for the sake of wankery. No structure, no interesting drum-work, just constant piano and bass solos. And it doesnt go anywhere. Even some of the more obnoxious albums on here had something going. I could, for instance, recommend the Klaxons to someone that likes pop rock, or Neneh Cherry to someone who longs for 80s pop (I consider both these albums to be the worst albums I have heard in my life, quite frankly), but this? I suppose, as I said in the beginning, it might be interesting to Jazz musicians, but its unlistanable to 99.9% mortals, and its not even entertaining as a "wowza groundbreaking!" album either.

I don't know much about Jazz. This seemed good. They played their instruments well. All the tracks kind of blur together into an hour long single track. Enjoyable, but not as good as the Getz/Gilberto album I listened to two days ago (for my taste).

Erm, it was very nice

Good album, not really something I’d listen to often but it’s definitely on my list to listen to while I paint or read

A sublime artifact of an acclaimed trio at the top of their game, forever capturing the mastery of their symbiotic playing before it ceased to exist only days later.

Great live jazz album! Contrabass, piano and drums - all very good together and all have great solos. Probably recorded in a bar as you can hear talking and glasses in the background. It kind of makes you feel you where there.

Just not my preferred style of music.

gostoso

Definitely one I wouldn't have picked on a "what should I listen to today" thought process. Nice jazzy change to my day!

JAZZ

Good piano background music.

not my tempo

Moved into a flat to this

Really liked this one

Para quem gosta de um bom jazz, ótima pedida!

Cool smooth chill session jazz, which would be awesome to kick back and have playing in the background. Bill Evans trio had quite a fan base, but the sophistication of each track was kinda lost on me, with most of it feeling the same as the last track. Loved the double time brush drumming, silkily played out to compliment effortless piano and bass.

Piano jazz - I’m sure they’re good, just not my thing

They say that, in jazz, the notes you don't play are the important ones. This is definitely true, as the bass player here elected not to play any notes that weren't a little bit sharp.

Jazzy jazz

Jazz

Cool album

Music like this gives me life. Music like this gives me hope, makes my day better, and fills my heart with love. How can you not love jazz? I have a hard time giving a jazz album a low score, because I have a hard time not loving jazz music. These three manage to do more in 6 songs than some can say for their entire careers. Aside from maybe two songs, every track has a bass solo on it. And I am glad it was done that way. Because Scott 100% takes advantage of the time he is given, and shows off his mastery of the bass in an excellent way. You want to know what my favorite part of this record is though? It's the crowd ambiance. For some reason, I love the noises of the people in the club. It is somewhat quiet, but on most songs, you can hear the sounds of the hustle and bustle inside of the Village Vanguard. It adds the perfect atmosphere to the record, and because it was left in, and the trio just plays right over it, it really makes you feel like you are there while they are playing. Scott's death shortly after this was recorded is so tragic, and it breaks my heart knowing this was the last time Bill ever saw him, and how it affected him going forward, but I'm glad we have a set of masterful performances from him to cement his legacy. Rating: 9/10

Jazz is not really my genre

Evans, LaFaro och Motian är du fruktansvärt samspelta. Som en maskin som jammar lös. Bland det bästa albumet jag vet. Extra starkt med tanke på att LaFaro omkom 11 dagar efter inspelningen.

Hyvää ruuanlaittojazzia. Alice in Wonderland ehdoton suosikki. Kuuntelisin uudelleen sopivassa tilanteessa.

Livealbum igjen

I usually like jazz but this really didn’t do it for me unfortunately

Elevator Music

This hits close to the heart. Fucking love bill Evans. One of the most influential jazz piants ever.

I'm sure these guys are great but I almost fell asleep at the wheel listening to this album. One star for safety

I just can't get behind jazz, objectively good album but I fell asleep to it on the train

this was interesting! just not really for me

nice but live jazz album was never going to be for me

Maybe it just is not for me

Great album jazz, very smooth. The bass lines are amazing!

My first listen to any project by this trio, and it was a magnificent one. All three musicians are at the top of their game, the highlight being the stand-up bass work of Scott LaFaro. Scott’s passing shortly after the release of this record adds weight to the performances, and truly makes this album a live jazz highlight in my collection.

Heard before: no It feels like I need the 1001 Bill Evans Records I Need To Hear Before I Die; there’s a new one unearthed every year. So I’m glad one was assigned here. And… I might need to hear more bad jazz to appreciate the subtlety here. This is certainly masterful, virtuosic - the bass player RIPS - and there are a few tracks and passages that stand out. I appreciate the cool piano voicings that are so famous, and the more I ease in to it, the better it is. I just feel like there is a lot of context I just don’t have. 1000 Bill Evans records to go… Top tracks: Alice In Wonderland (Take 2), Jade Visions (Take 2), My Man’s Gone Now

4.5

Not my speed, but an impressive recording

alice in wonderland and jade visions may be the best jazz pieces ever created.

One of the best double bass playing I've ever heard. I'll sit on this one for some time. its so hard for me to rate classic jazz albums on a scale 1-5

Ok.. abstract jazzy

I never listen to jazz, but the jazz albums I listen to I always like and this was no exception. Fun and light.

Beautiful Jazz music, will listen to again

Too similar to each others

Stunning jazz, beautifully delivered. And whilst the live setting creates atmosphere, could the people talking please shut up?

Great piano album to focus.

Delightful.

Chill cafe jazz good for working to A collection of recordings (improvised) rather than a cohesive album Sounds much older than it is - kinda all sound the same but there ain’t nothing wrong with that.

Wow. Not a very long listening experience but an amazing album. No weak tracks. The sound was so complete it was difficult to believe it was just a trio.

Just a beautiful and masterful live jazz record on a lazy rainy Sunday morning. Perfection.

Very relaxing classic jazz, recorded live :-)

Possibly the most painful jazz album I’ve had to sit through thus far. I’m sorry, I just don’t get it. It’s so boring.

startastic

Felt like pretty standard jazz as a lay listener. Not deep into the musicology enough to know if it broke any barriers or influenced the jazz to come. Good to study to, but more relaxing and less dynamic compared to the electronic/lo-fi/house instrumentals in my study playlists. Would be a first choice if I were hosting a dinner party, which is probably the point. 5.5/10

Really liked this, and v impressed it’s live!

Beautiful piano, well played amazing music

This is the first album I gave up on. Really not a fan of jazz.

Nice jazz album, would listen again

I listened to this while cooking and it couldn't have set the vibe better - so relaxing and smooth.

Relaxing and nice to work too, although it did also start sending me to sleep. Still undecided on a lot of Jazz, I thought this was fun but I much prefer uptempo stuff.

Dude can play some piano and they got some good jazz but it aint for me

rainy day jazz.

Reminds me of ihop

It’s fine

so bad

Kinda jazzy but drums too loud for my taste

A very good jazz album, but I don't think I need to listen to it again.

Not a jazz fan...it’s jazz

Good background music. Boring otherwise

Jazz

It was fine, but nothing that I would listen to on my own

Not for my taste, but decent slow piano.

I'd find myself tuning out every now and again but if there was a bass solo I'd tune back in. There's lots of groovy stuff to enjoy in this album. I would throw it on again to work to but I'm not much for active listening to jazz.

Just felt like a good day for this one, I was in the mood for some chill steady jazz so I was happy with it. A bit different vibe than other live albums, felt like I was pulled into the crowd. It was kinda neat hearing the clinks of glassware, chatter of the audience in the background. The Trio powered thru the hour long set not missing a note, strong set, chill vibes. 4 stars

I like jazz, I like Evans' contributions to the world of jazz, but this one errs a bit too much towards easy listening by my book.

Nice idea, let's get one of the greatest bass player (at the time) and let him play against the rhythm of other members. Interesting concept, full steam ahead! For some reason this album reminded me of a video of Pablo Picasso I have seen, where he was painting a bird in a childish way. We all know he is great and extremely talented, so he can now do whatever he wants, it will all amuse us anyway, doesn't matter how stupid it is. Well, Bill Evans Trio members were great and very talented, and together they came up with this unlistenable album, that is giving me heart palpitations from all the wrong reasons. Great milestone in history, there are no rules in music anymore, hurray!

Kind of sounds like lounge music though when it was recorded it was probably pretty new.

I know some people actually like straight Jazz, but I. Am. Bored. My ADHD can not handle this. It's very pretty background music for a sleepy coffee shop. That's it.

I’m blown away by the technicality of this album. Every member of the trio is so on point. And the bass!! The bassist’s solos were all just brilliant. It was really cool to see how seamless this group is together. There is clearly a dialogue here and they are speaking to each other and to the audience without words. This album is really very impressive.

Always like listening to Bill Evans, never heard this album before, "Alice In Wonderland" was great, the whole album is a jazz masterpiece.

Pretty. 'background' jazz. No strong hooks or solos, but classic. 4.

The first time I listened to this was in the car. That was months ago and I forgot to write up a score. From a vague memory I didn't enjoy it much. Today I came back to it, this time in the kitchen whilst cooking away a bunch of stuff. It's much better suited to that sort of thing. Light background music - and there's nothing wrong with that. The improv aspects, especially the drums, are a bit much at times for me. But I'm not a jazz aficionado and I guess that there will be people who love that shit. I'd take the gentle background nature of this, or one of the related performances. I won't actively seek this out to listen to regularly, but I might easily stick it on on a Friday afternoon when I'm cooking something good for dinner. It's another of those solid 3.5 star ones that don't quite merit a 4, but are better than some of the stuff that gets a 3.

I'm not really a jazz guy. I don't get what makes this good. Sorry, jazz heads. This is just boring to me. It's fine background music but it's hard to believe that anyone would want to actively listen to this.

Amazing recoding. Can place each of the two people in the crowd when they clap. But not the music for me

Background music and a very easy listen

I love jazz. This album really isn't different from many of the others in the space. I do understand it's hard to differentiate yourself on these. I can respect it and have listened to this album in it's entirety a few times, but there's nothing new here. Just well crafted jazz that you can get in a lot of clubs around the US.

Aldrig varit såhär taggad på jazz faktiskt

I don't know anything about jazz. After listening to this album, I now know one thing. This is a really nice jazz.

a beautiful jazz album by Bill Evans. Of course the piano on here is wonderful but the work from all the three musicians is really great. This is really giving me autumn vibes like I am sitting outside in the park and watching the leaves fall down. Is it the best live jazz album??? It could very much be! favourites: Gloria's Step, My Man's Now Gone, Solar, All Of You least fav.: Jade Visions Rating: strong 9

Don't normally approve of live albums, but the audience is virtually nonexistent other than intro and outro clapping. Nice laid back piano jazz.

A new album for me. Really liked Alice in Wonderland. To me he has such a distinctive sound.

Not my style

Deep respect for the ingenious music, but not my thing. 6.5/10

Alice in wonderland had me creaming me jeans Music for being sophisticated

👍👍👍👍🏿

More Jazz. Not bad, but not my thing.

Mmmmmm very pleasing Fav Track: Gloria's Step Strong 3.5/5

Skills on show but not the kind of jazz I can sink into on a cold listen. End of the last track synced up with me landing in Venice which was a moment. I'm sure it comes with more listening but I can't find anything to sink my teeth into with playing this loose. Fave track: Jade Visions - Take 2

Simply one of the best to ever tickle the ivories and playing in such captivating form. A showcase of pure jazz talent. Fave track: Alice in Wonderland

Not my kind of jazz this one. A lot of the songs made me feel like I needed to go wee.

Very nice laidback, moving jazz album! All players are a class act, but never outplay themselves. The music is flowing freely and progresses beautifully. This is what great jazz is about! 8,5 out of 10

objectively good by nearly any measure but i just don't like piano so let's compromise on a 3

I really liked this. Jazz doesn't have to be Avant-Guard and squeaky. This is smooth and relaxing without being sentimental. I'll listen to this again.....

Amazing session, with three players really synced into each other. Great album.

It's not nearly as exciting as what Miles Davis or Charles Mingus were doing around this time, but I'm certainly not gonna say no to calming jazz

I know nothing about Jazz, but this felt like it wasn't a very easy listen. I struggle with Jazz with no blatant clear melody which is returned to at some point, and if there was one in these songs, I didn't really notice it. The bass felt way too loud in the mix, Maybe my hearing is just better on my left and the bass seemed to be pushed to far left, and the piano far right. This meant I often listened to the bass over the piano, and as this is a Bill Evans album I guess I should be listened to the piano more...? Didn't really enjoy it, but not so much I didn't listen to the whole thing

Extremely listenable, goes down smooth even if sophisticated

Pretty good tbf

Fantastic playing by all three members of the trio. Very different style than Myles Davis, even though it is improv it is much catchier and more focused. Listened through this album 5-6 times in one day

beautiful jazz album.. I like it...

Rollo patatero.

I don’t know. It’s a jazz album. I played the version with additional tracks so heard some songs again but didn’t notice. Lovely but not attaching to my mind

Jazz is hit or miss for me, I think it depends on the style. This one hits.

Pish

I won't rate it too low as to not seem uncultured. This was fine as *background jazz* but didn't make much of an impact to my 21st century ears (but a break from dad-rock is always appreciated, of course).

Pleasantly enjoyable, but I'd be lying if I said I could tell the difference between good and bad jazz. Just short of upgrading to 4*.

3.5 Good album. Nice to relax to. Recorded live and there are people talking during the performance which is distracting.

Have to give it another listen some day, was not in the mood for it.

I'm not a jazz fan. As far as I'm concerned this is one long song with no melody or changes.

Jazz and all that jazz, i tried and failed.

Mmm. Pretty complex stuff made to sound effortless. Interesting, but sounds very grown up and sophisticated so not really for me.

I thought I was going to really enjoy this, but it was all just a bit limp. They need a person up front giving it some.

Do you know what this is? Yes, this is jazz.

De grandes nuances d’interprétation. Me semble assez « standard » comme jazz. Écoute facile et agréable. Superbe.

Good romantic candlelight dinner background music

Just not my jam

Yessir

Gentle simplicity without losing energy is typically very difficult to pull off, but this album does it extremely well. It's calming and relaxing, and yet driving at the same time. I love the interplay between the bass and piano - they bounce off of eachother very well. One of the other reviews mentioned that Bill Evans sounds like falling water, and I completely agree. This is an album for a rainy day in November, but you are feeling calm and motivated.

excellent...one of my favorite jazz albums!

7/10. very beautiful

Good! Just too long

This is music that's best listened to live in a jazz club where you're forced to pay attention and focus on the music. For me, this album evokes images of a rainy day in New York in the autumn.

If I had to pick a selection of albums that would be “your stereotypical jazz”, this would be one of them.

Beautiful, but a bit bored, haven’t finished in one sitting. Will probably come back to it later (If I can remembrer)

Complex and cerebral. Beautiful in it's simplicity. Always something new to discover even after multiple listens. 5 cool autumn afternoon breezes out of 5 🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂

I had the very good fortune of discovering Bill Evans in the early 1990s and getting to see him perform live in a small club in San Francisco around 1993 or 1994. It was wonderful, and I am so glad that one of my friends there organized that outing. Bill Evans has a rare quality of being precise and yet also having a rhythm, a swing, an emotion to his playing. Great choice for the 1001.

Jazz instrumental album. Pretty boring for me

The sound of silence, a Sunday morning with the comics page in your lap with your dog sound asleep at your slippered feet while an autumnal rain storm passes through. 4.5/5.

Jazz

Though some of the songs do appear twice, each interpretation feels fresh and new.

Wallpaper Jazz!

Dull as hell

Rating:7/10

Good piano jazz

"Sunday at the Village Vanguard" is a live album by jazz pianist and composer Bill Evans and his trio who with himself is comprised of bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Matian. The material was drawn from the trio's five sets performed on June 25, 1961 at the Village Vanguard in New York City. It was the trio's last recording as Scott LaFaro would die in an auto accident 11 days after. Bill Evans and producer Orrin Keepnews selected songs for the album that would best feature LaFaro's performances. The album is widely considered as Evans' finest and routinely ranked as one of the best live jazz recordings of all time. A piano start and idiosyncratic drums open "Gloria's Step (Take 2)" There's a plodding bass. Each instrument is kind of improvising on their own yet connected as a band. A bass jam as LaFaro goes up and down the scales. Also, a song he wrote. The band covers George Gershwin's "My Man's Gone Now." It's slower, piano led. The drummer is using the cymbals/snare to make a rain sound. Another bass improvised solo. They then cover Mike's Davis' "Solar." A quicker pace with the drums more bebop. All three instruments take their turns in improvised solos. The album ends with another LaFaro song in "Jade Visions (Take 2)." A soft bass open. The piano is featured more prominently. Drums add a brushing sound. The interplay between the musicians on this album is quite impressive: when one musician finishes, another one steps in as lead. The band goes back and forth playing in unison and giving each other space to improvise. Each solo is unique in these songs. This is a high level jazz and overall album.

One rates oneself f a huge Bill Evans fan but this is not one's fave of his records. The playing seems a bit busy here, fussy and involved, even if it’s played at an extremely high level. I have a soft spot for the sweeter, more melodic playing (see At the VV). One realizes the ensemble playing is the point, but I would have preferred the soloists to have a bit more space. “Alice in Wonderland” is a marvel, however. Still, it's Bill Evans

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

It's gooodddd yeah lots of double bass solos lol that I didn't find the most um. Gripping, at times. Experimental. Some gorgeous phrasing but there is just so so much that a lot of it is going to miss for me.

Good jazz album.

Jazzy piano music. No lyrics. Good for background music. Songs sound similar, not much meaning/feeling is conveyed.

The clink of plates or silverware in the background really threw me at first. Had to double check if the noise cancelling was working on my headphones. Good background jazz. The bass lines were kind of frantic and odd. The piano is really nice and attention grabbing. Repeating the takes in a row was a strange choice IMO.

My heart will not let me place this above Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival 7 years after this when Bill got his mojo back, but that's likely because I was exposed to it at a critical time in my exploration of the genre and it's so lively and out there that it may be more recognizable as remarkable. Both albums deserve 5 stars easily. This though, wow. For those that don't know, the bassist on this album died in a car crash shortly after, and this particular trio has been regarded for having a remarkable chemistry, so beyond the recording itself, it gets some serious historical cred for being their last hurrah. As someone who's lucky enough to live right by two bars that have donation-based live jazz almost every night, that massive boost in exposure has given me much more of an appreciation for live recordings that stand out. There's sort of a magic trick to it. It's a very fine line to tow between accessibility and sophistication, before you even get to pulling apart the tone of the individual musicians or how well they gel together. This trio is insanely cohesive - they pioneered the idea that all the instruments can share melodic responsibility on an equal footing and they shift modes so effortlessly. This is arguably THE blueprint for what most trios are trying to do nightly in New York. I almost wish there was a shitty live album on this list so those less exposed could appreciate better how superb this is.

One of the great live recordings of all time. It is a shame that this trio's time was cut short, as they were on an incredible roll as these recordings show. The interplay between three highly skilled performers is outstanding. Required listening.

This was nice background music for a cocktail party. I don't know anything about jazz so I can't really say if it's truly great or just ok.

Excellent musicianship is on display throughout this album, but at no point did I feel like I needed to stop what I was doing and just listen. Bill Evans is very good at setting a mood and staying there, and that these were each done in one take is impressive.

I’m not a huge Jazz fan, and thus may horrify those who are, but to me this instrumental trio played great background music for a party or studying. Sorry if that sounds like a backhanded compliment, but I did enjoy it.

Its jazz and hoo-boy is it Jazz.... its pleasant, its not my thing, it goes a bit all over the place at times and there are a few songs where the drummer seems to only want to hit the cymbal...but its unoffensive 2.5 rounded up to 3

Truly sexy

This was fine.

I really enjoy 60s jazz, on the verge of even loving it. Mellow & smooth. Definitely something I'd listen to again. 4.5 stars

Never heard of this recording before. It's perfect.

The line-up of this trio is absolutely insane. Evans, LaFaro and Motian all revolutionized how their individual instruments were to be played in a jazz ensemble. And while this is the Bill Evans Trio it is Scott LaFaro’s bass that steals the show entirely. There is just enough chatter and clinking of glasses in the background to make this live album truly come alive. You could’ve almost fooled me if you said I was actually there.

Jazz, nice Not my cup of tea though

Fine, if unexciting piano tinkling

A smooth lounge jazz, I can see myself there with a vodka gimlet, not as interesting as other jazz albums but did have some shining tracks.

Never listened to Bill Evans record that wasn’t great

Nice chilled album

It’s a cute little jazz piano moment, but not a life changer for me.

Love it - this will be added to my list for all future nights where “nothing and nowhere” run the to-do list.

Not quite my tempo, but pleasant jazz music

Just sublime. Very nice. I was annoyed that the Spotify version has the bonus tracks interspersed throughout the album instead of putting them all at the end like a sane person would do.

God, jazz is pointless

I don’t deserve to be blown away by this album. “Sunday at the Village Vanguard” is a classic live jazz recording, sitting comfortably on dozens of “all-time-best” lists. Evans on piano, Scott LaFaro on bass, Paul Motion on drums… and that’s it. Three musicians at the top of their game, fitting together with effortless skill and panache. And yet it leaves me cold, and I’ve had to reconcile the objective brilliance of these musicians with my utter ambivalence to the art they’re making. Because in truth… it just isn’t horn-y enough for me. Sorry, Mr. Evans, but the brass and wind sections are always what I enjoy the most in jazz. Without them, I struggle to find something to latch onto. Of course, the performances we are left with are all superb: in particular, LaFaro plays bass like no one I’ve ever heard. Eleven days after recording this, he was killed in a car accident at the age of 25, which is a tragedy for jazz as we know it. Evans and Motion are excellent too, lighting up the record with technically brilliant performances… but it all just blends into one continuous cocktail party I can’t escape. It feels useless for me to try and single out particular moments I liked or didn’t like, or analyse just one particular theme. This plays as an album of atmosphere, to be swallowed whole in one sitting, enjoyed as the crowd heard in the background clearly are doing. So please understand that these two stars are not a mark against the trio’s skills, the recording quality, the standard of music. They are simply me admitting defeat, sheepishly holding up my hands to say “I don’t get it”. Yet.

Expected more. Maybe wrong day wrong album. Smack in the double middle for me.

Firstly, jazz is not exactly my cup of tea, and even then, this is a live session which I am also not a fan of

Great jazz album. This sets some kind of mood that makes me happy

Nice background music

This is good, but also a tad to backgroundy

I like the general vibe but it's a bit too much for me as an album. As I'm typing this I realise I've listened to a lot of the songs twice (take1/take2) without realising this which might contribute to the fact it felt a bit montenous at times :')

Pure jazz. Was not in the mood for it, but can appreciate the technical mastery.

What an amazing album!!

Mag ich. Fühlt sich wie ein sommerlicher Spaziergang durch das New York von Woody Allen an. Entspannt mich furchtbar. Wunderbare Dialoge zwischen den Instrumenten – gute Mischung aus high brow und entertainment.

Great

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.

7/10

Wow. Thoroughly enjoyed that. In another mood I might have found it dull but to work along to was amazing. Bassists in particular stood out, so sad to read that he died straight after in a car crash. What a final bow out. Something to explore more of, genre and artist.

Bill Evans joins forces with Scott LaFaro (Bass) and Paul Motian (Drums) to record this exquisite jazz album. This complex and sophisticated project has great bass solos and lovely piano lines, and, although some songs are longer than they should be, encapsulates the cool jazz genre from the early 60s.

Jazz. Rating: 3.0

Slick jazz album. Really enjoyable.

Really great. It seems weird to me that only Bill Evans gets his name on the Trio, the bass and drums are both as good if not better than his piano.

Good jazz album

Great album, love Bill’s work. Enjoyed it very much, but don’t understand why this couldn’t have been recorded in a studio. Would have been a lot better. 4/5

Very sound album

Nää sikstarin jazzihommat kyl toimii jopa livelevyinä. Tykkäsin! 4/5

Oikein mukavaa jazzia. Arvoin kolmen ja neljän välillä -> täpärä neljä.

Keskimäärin jazz-levyt tällä listalla on olleet todella kovia! 4/5

Rollo patatero.

really enjoyed jazz instrumental album. nothong to dislike really. i see it being rwmixed or sampled

What a groove!

Excellent jazz recording. I like being able to hear the patrons and their forks in the background. 3.9/5

Not a Jazz head - tolerated this

this kind of jazz just isn’t for me, i don’t know what emotions it’s supposed to evoke, but it’s technically impressive and probably just the shit for some people

Exceptional album. The talent on display is incredible and the chemistry palpable. A must for any serious jazz collection. 5 stars

I mean, do I really have to say why this is a classic?

It’s all a blur to me. No catchy hooks, hardly any dynamics, songs are way too long. If you play as many extra notes in a chord, every chord sounds the same. Pointless.

Just some piano, some bass and a little brushed drum. Very cool, very chill. Perfect for working to. I love this old jazz, man. Puts me in a headspace.

If I knew jazz, I’m sure this is 10. It’s easy to listen to and is really diverse when you pay attention to it

Respect the musical ability on display, always blows my mind that people can just whip out this kind of stuff live (and probably improvised) but just don’t really get jazz

I wasn't in the mood. It was alright. Jade Visions

Smoooooth!

Already know this one. Incredible respect for its influence on small combos from the 60s to the 2020s.

Pretty timeless jazz album, easy listening for those who think they don't like jazz. Really enjoyed hearing audience noise in the background. Quality bass and drums. Need several more listens to fully appreciate.

Alright. Miles Davis is more interesting.

I’m not an adept of post bop. Evans’ trio drew me in though.

Samaa mieltä olen passuunan soitattajista.. ei heitä tarvita heh... Ja on muutes hyvää musiikkia jazz ei petä paitsi sillonkuin se pettää muttei monesti petä muista poika se.. Ei tarpeeksi suurta murhenäytelmää tässä että täysiin tähtösiin yllettäisiin mutta vahvaa nelosta pukkaa huhhuh, virheetöntä ja lemppari sana jota ei suomeksi saa hyvin väänettyä "non-fatiguing" heitetääs se mukaa tähän sillä ei päätä viiraa tämä albumi ei.

Quality jazz, it started to feel a little samey after a bit though.

Awful

Classic jazz, could listen to this any time

It's a jazz club in New York, just looked it up

Not a fan of this one. Hated the constant double bass solos. Didn’t keep my interest.

Imagine being at the club in NYC while the Bill Evans Trio is belting out this classic 🎶 you'd get some of the best sleep of your life right in that club 😴

standard jazz album

Nice piano, but I didn't like the drumming or bass. The worst part is the mix which has too much high end and all of the most annoying sounds are far too present. At one point all i could hear was a cymbal making constant noise.

I was convinced that the Good Friday offering was going to have something to do with bunnies, chicks, eggs, or Jesus. I racked my brains, placing bets against myself on which album it would be. How wrong was I? The only connection being that there is a white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. This is not my type of music, but what I did marvel at was that I could hear each instrument distinctly and how they wove together effortlessly. I especially loved the drums. I can understand why this album is so revered. But I wouldn’t choose to listen to it again voluntarily.

OK, so I just read that the bassist in this trio died 10 days after this was recorded, which is eerie and sad, and makes me feel bad for wanting to mandate a limit as to how many bass solos any one album is allowed. There were like eight too many on this album. And I expect jazz is supposed to soothe and relax the listener... maybe not, what the hell do I know? All I can say is this did the opposite for me. I was agitated and uncomfortable while this was playing. It was a chore. This just isn't for me.