Sunday At The Village Vanguard

Great album to start the day with; coffee drinking music - also good for dinner parties Reminds me of Charlie Brown Listening to multiple takes of the same track was a bit tiresome, not a huge difference between takes

"Sunday at the Village Vanguard" by the Bill Evans Trio, recorded in 1961, is a masterclass in jazz instrumentation that seamlessly blends technical virtuosity with emotional depth. The album captures a live performance, notably showcasing the interplay between Evans on piano, Scott LaFaro on bass, and Paul Motian on drums. The trio's chemistry is palpable, especially in tracks like "Gloria's Step" and "Alice in Wonderland." Evans' delicate touch on the piano, LaFaro's inventive bass lines, and Motian's nuanced drumming create a captivating atmosphere. For those seeking an enjoyable instrumental jazz record, "Sunday at the Village Vanguard" is a sublime choice. Its sophisticated improvisations make it suitable for both active listening and as an enriching background for various settings. It earns a solid 3.5/5 for its timeless appeal and the trio's exceptional musicianship.

Didn't love it

Not my style but I get why people like it

Beautiful jazz. Kind of meandering, less focused on strong melody lines. Fantastic bass playing. We have had jazz albums for non-jazz fans. This is an album for jazz fans.

Lotsa funky stuff in this one, very complex, will definitely come back to it!

I liked it! Very good music to have on while doing anything, got me more into jazz

Cerebral, enjoyable to listen as background music while I do other things. I feel like I should listen attentively, but I just want to get to the next album on my list today.

Beautiful Jazz

Of all the jazz music i do not understand i do really enjoy this guy. To be honest he sounds very talented while making music i can enjoy. Most jazz for me is over my head and i dont think it sounds very pretty. This is pretty technically proficient and worth a re-listen.

Love that it sounds like there are 15 people in the audience. Adds to the experience.

Smooth Jazz with very prominent bass. Last 2 tracks are my favourite. Definitely requires subsequent focused listens to really appreciate the detail in this album.

All instrumental! Definitely a good one when working— hard to believe it’s recorded LIVE.

The was a lot to like here--and I'm not really a jazz guy. My biggest gripe about this was that something sounded like a broken or loose linkage in my car when this was playing. Whenever I paused the music, it would stop so it was definitely something in the recording. I took me forever to realize this and it drove me nuts on my way to work. Besides that, great jazz album. 4/5

Great smooth background jazz. Would be a pleasant night at a club listening to this. 4.5

3.5-4 My enjoyment of the album was closer to 3.5, but I think a jazz fan might find it a 4-5. I don’t know a lot about jazz so I can’t speak to its technicality, but compared to some of the jazz albums I’ve listened to, this one was pleasant listening. It just felt more like background/holding/elevator music to me and didn’t really evoke any emotion for me, and I wonder if jazz is just something that should be experienced in person, especially more so than other genres. (So I think I’ll rate it a 4)

4.5/5

good starbucks background music (minus the clapping)

Nice. Jazz standards.

Solid listen. Fascinating to hear jazz with no brass instruments. The real star is bassist Scott LaFaro. His playing is outstanding.

Jazz

This was good. Set a nice ambiance as I was listening and working.

Good jazz, as always. Minus one star for that extremely annoying track listing on Spotify.

Would recommend for wandering Washington DC and rides on the train.

Jazz is difficult to rate. On one hand, it's boring. On the other hand, the musicians are playing their asses off. Each song is full of complex musical runs by pianist, bass player, drummer etc. Bottom line: How did it make you feel? 3.5

A true classic, especially if you like bass solos.

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

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.

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!

Incredible jazz ensemble

Some say the bass is still walking.

Parfait en ambiance sonore pour faire autre chose.

4.5 rounding down starting to think im a sucker for jazz

pretty smooth in a good way. 4 stars.

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

Very nice listening music, great jazz album

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Hell yeah. Nice chill tunes.

Great live album, didnt care for the multiple takes.

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

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.

gostoso

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

Really liked this one

Jazzy jazz

Cool album

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

4.5

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

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

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

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.

Very relaxing classic jazz, recorded live :-)

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

Beautiful piano, well played amazing music

Nice jazz album, would listen again

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.

rainy day jazz.

Reminds me of ihop

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

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’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.

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.

👍👍👍👍🏿

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

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

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

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.

beautiful jazz album.. I like it...

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

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.

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.

Rating:7/10

Good piano jazz

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

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.

Truly sexy

Never listened to Bill Evans record that wasn’t great

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Classic jazz, could listen to this any time

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

Quality stuff. What Debussy might sound like if he had a hip rhythm section. Great and sensitive playing throughout. This has never been a favorite of mine for some reason—maybe I want a horn to change the sound up a bit—but it's always a charmer and it's fantastic background music. I love the ambient sounds. Listening with headphones was a funny experience as I'd often turn around, thinking someone was talking to me. I've been to the Vanguard, and this immersive recording really allowed me to picture what it must've been like to watch this trio. Also, I love this quote from Miles Davis: "Bill had this quiet fire that I loved on piano. The way he approached it, the sound he got was like crystal notes or sparkling water cascading down from some clear waterfall." I went down a bit of a rabbit hole after listening to this. I thought Bill died in the '60s, but he lived and recorded up to 1980. He has two very cool albums with Tony Bennett that are worth checking out.

Solid piano jazz

One of the most highly-rated live jazz albums for good reason. Beautiful piano lines throughout, very different compared to the other jazz I listened to which seemed to have more buildups and releases throughout.

Some great jazz and super impressive musicians - complex, yet simple

This was a great listen. Really good background music and made me feel like I was relaxing in an old jazz club.

Such a cool jazz trio sound. A little boring at times because I love brass, but it’s calming, fun and carefree.

Groovy

This was a great performance. Don't really know what else to say other than it made me feel good. Overall - 8.8

I loved this record the first time I heard it (when I didn't know much about Bill Evans or this trio). This record is so good you won't even mind that they "play the same song twice" four different times. To review, that's 8 tracks on a 10 track album. A considerable part of the success of this live recording in my opinion is the playing of bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian. They more than hold their own with Bill Evans. When Scott or Paul take the spotlight it's as equally rewarding as when Bill does.

Piano/drums/bass jazz, quite nice in the background

Great Jazz album

hmm yea i love jazz ooohhh babaY I LOVE JAZZ mmmm yessir thank u this is excellent and yummers

Pretty good and definitely sounds like the era. Should appeal to fans of Vince Guaraldi.

Some great mellow jazz vibes. Have to be in the right mood for it but very well made.

I hadn't heard this album before and I loved it. My biggest criticism is the way the updated version of the album repeats tracks, providing different versions next to each other, which isn't great for flow. But otherwise gorgeous!

I had low expectations, with it being a live album and only seeing Bill Evans side-by-side with Miles Davis, I didn't think he could produce a spectacular album on his own. And yeah, he isn't on his own here. In fact, LaFaro's bass is just as important if not more outstanding than Evans' piano. Nevertheless, the trio does a fantastic job at a simple jazz performance that showcases the power of improvisation. Motian sets up the rhythm while LaFaro and Evans take turns on center stage, often colliding and complimenting each other, but you sometimes can't tell which, as if which one tends to swap every so often. Noticed there were some complimentary "lyrics" on Spotify which are quite poetic. Some people like the ambiance of the live recording, but I personally could not care for audience chatter and glass clinks, finding it a bit distracting at times. Not a huge deal since the bass and piano hone in on your attention, but I would prefer a cleaner sound. I also found Evans' to be a bit underwhelming here, even sounding a bit muffled in comparison to LaFaro. He has plenty of beautiful moments, but also many parts I found dull.

The best to do it

Kinda liked it

4.5

Sounds about 15 people heard it live, at least half of which were the band. Mind you it was a studio quality recording and a milestone in jazz, which helps. A great record.

Reading the backstory on this album makes it very poignant. The bassist died shortly after the recording, and the songs that made this album were chosen to feature him. The bass is certainly ever-present in this album, serving, as it always does in these trios, as the glue that holds the piano and the drums together while each of them pursue their own ends. The album is beautiful. I like Bill Evans's work with Miles Davis better, but he put an incredible solo trio together, and the quality that they were able to produce is on full display here 4/5

vibes

- this is so stupid but the ambient sounds, especially the clapping, keep startling me and i keep checking behind me because it feels like someone is there. i guess you could say its immersive lol overall impressions: had a good time, i don't know a lot about jazz (ironic since i was in jazz band for four years in high school) but i liked the sound. would listen again for sure.

Again, don't know a ton about jazz but this is a really beautiful album. It's an easy one to just have on and do work or whatever. The bassist is amazing but some of the solos come off a little sloppy and don't feel like they fit in with the heart of the songs. Still a very good album, I just like it most when all three are playing together. Standout Tracks: My Man's Gone Now, Alice In Wonderland (Take 2), All of You (Take 2), Alice In Wonderland (Take 1), All of You (Take 3), Jade Visions (Take 1)

Smoooooth

I mean, this is pretty great to stuff to just have on at all times. I didn't walk away humming it, but my brain was happy.

Really hip, and it goes down like a vintage merlot. I suppose when one thinks of sophisticated, small-combo jazz music, this represents the archetype. SatVV is accessible, cool and features some feats of quiet virtuosity. As someone learning to play piano, listening to Evans' playing is like an audio picnic. The highlight for me is 'Solar', but I adore the tenderness of 'Jade Visions'. Mad that such a landmark live performance was captured in front of what seems to be about eight people, who clap politely at the end of each song.

I started my jazz journey with Bill Evans. His playing was like no other, even if I can't really explain it. Miles Davis said that he was playing "underneath the music" and I can understand what he's saying. He made every standard his own, rendering them more intriguing, almost avant-garde in a way. Each note mattered and when can clearly feel it when we listen to him play. Add Scott LaFaro, surely one of the best bass player around, and you've got an instant classic. I think I prefer Waltz From Debby, which comes from the same concerts, but they're all mandatory as far as I'm concerned.

Perfect music to make dinner to

That's a shame I didnt know this one prior to the challenge.

Smooth, high class and precise jazz. It's incredible to think it has been made live, because the playing of the musicians is an absolute perfection! I do not feel bound to those songs, but it was very well played.

Easy listening jazz but none of the songs are that distinctive. I'm curious what's supposed to make this one of the best live jazz recordings ever.

Beautiful music, not so much of a fan of the ambient noise alongside the music

Jazz met veel contrabas, wel mijn type

So much technical perfection that I’ll never really understand. It took me a couple of days to finish this one, but it’s a very pleasant listen.

Pleasant - wonderful musicianship - albeit not so memorable songs.

I get worried when I see a jazz trio with songs north of six minutes because this means I’ll be hearing a lot of bass solos and drums solos. But the solos here seem to fit in nicely and the bass playing is quite intricate. Evans isn’t a flashy player but very melodic and integrated with the other instruments. I guess if I were to listen to a bunch or trio LPs this would be pretty near the top. It captures an interesting time for me, as post-bop was becoming a little freer and less structured and the songs were more drawn out.

Loves it. Bill Evans killing it as usual.

I love jazz but I never know how to review it. It’s great and Evans kills it on the keys. A-

Slay

Digger BE, og dette livealbumet hadde jeg bare hørt et par ganger for lenge siden. Klassiker!

Great album.

Kakvi su ovo napadi jazza sa svih strana? Ne bunim se. Moja mala noćna muzika.

This was unreal, lots going on in each song compared to what I was familiar with in the genre

Crisp, classic, jazz trio. Very nice.

This was soothing to listen to, very comforting.

Nice jazz

Jazz canónico. Un 4.

The trio's singularity is captured well on Sunday, but it feels like there is some compositional fire missing. For better and worse, it's a bass-driven record, and all three instruments take on the supporting role at times. That's technically very impressive, but it makes Evans's solo work on Solar shine brighter than the keys do anywhere else. However, I can't ignore the creativity and precision, somehow snagged together and live.

Beautiful but bare bones. 8/10

Prima relaxte Jazz

Great, never heard it before, but sounds amazing.

слушала весь день и не запомнила ни одной песни

The first few tracks put me on edge, but I got into it after a while. Pleasant surprise, have since listened to a few more of Bill's albums.

Very good

Good ass jazz

4.4 + As the name implies, this is perfect Sunday morning jazz when you're doing the crossword or reading a good book. I love the ambient café sounds throughout but I'm missing some of the exultant phrases and boisterous colors of some of my favorite jazz records. Still, this performance is a finely honed gem.

Heard before: yes Classic. Not always the right mood, but Bill Evans and band are virtuosos.

Big fan of the trad jazz

It's always lovely to listen to this kind of Jazz during the morning, so this is an excellent pick for today. I know I'll be unfair in my analysis, but the problem with this album is the lack of innovation, which is very unfair for a 1961 album. Still, I already received other old Jazz albums here on this list that are also good and have a lot of innovation. In short, a great album with a great interpretation, but not remarkable as others released some years before and after.

Funciona muito bem para criar e sustentar um clima de plenitude com piano executando jazz.

Bel Album de Jazz. Comme tout album de Jazz, il y a toujours des endroits ou je me demande ou ca s'en va. C'Est la beauté de cette musique, car il y a toujours un dénouement inattendu très bien préapré. 4

not had a jazz phase for a while, one for later years i reckon so parking it with a 4

Jazzy jazz.

Beautiful. If someone asked me what jazz sounds like, this is what I would play for them. But not in a bad way!

Muy bueno, pero tengo una debilidad por el jazz de Bill Evans.

This is the most jazziest jazz I think I've heard. If you asked me to show someone what jazz sounded like, this would be it. I can't say I'm the biggest fan of this era of jazz and much prefer the swing era but it's fine. Bill Evans was an amazing pianist and this album does give chill vibes.

Really liked this for a Sunday afternoon

Lovely all around

I enjoyed the album. Jazz, man. Dig it. The problem with a jazz trio is that you are not going to get a lot of variation. I mean, it's piano, bass and drums. What else are they going to do? Piano solo, bass solo, drum solo. That's it. It does start to sound a bit same-y after a while. So I can't imagine me getting the whole Bill Evans Trio collection. But a live performance like this one or two definitely cleanses the palate.

Sublime and atmospheric. Alice in Wonderland especially

Very pleasant. Makes me feel like I am someplace fancy. You can half listen and it's enjoyable or you can really listen and it's a feast for your brain.

Really very groovy!

I've had several jazz albums come up now, some Afro-Cuban jazz, and smooth jazz specifically. This is the first real straight jazz album and the one thing this project has done is really given me an insight into this genre that I've never really paid any attention to. This album was very nice, I had it on as I did some work and it set a good vibe of being in the small intimate setting where a live band was playing. I can see myself getting more into this music over time.

Definitely has a Sunday feel to it, I really enjoyed it. The live setting with the clapping at the end of each piece gives a cozy, small-room feel. The recording is actually incredible as well, all of the instruments sound so full and crisp and are played extremely well by the members of the trio. 7/10

One of the towering giants of piano playing. Effortless playing.

I'm not super into jazz, but this brought back a lot of memories of my grandfather, who was a jazz pianist. Bittersweet to listen to but comforting in a way.

The Best Jazz Pianist of the Era. He was on Kind of Blue. The co-founder of low-key bebop. But I find other albums by him even better, therefore only: ( 7/10) FT: Alice In Wonderland, Solar

I enjoyed this but had my usual issue with this kind of jazz where when it gets into the long form improvisation it just seems like noodling around scales. I know this makes me a low brow but there it is.

NICE JAZZ Very chill and good

Glorious cool jazz - put it on and ignore it and let it create a relaxing atmosphere for you, or pay attention and be rewarded at all the details you can hear. Works either way! Fave track - eh, they blend together so I don't have a firm favourite - "Alice in Wonderland", let's say...

Very nice background listening to tap your feet to.

Great relaxing music. I can imagine myself listening to this while enjoying a sunny cup of coffee.

Very nice doing good things for my anxiety

Very chill, do not much about jazz though so it feels like I cannot appreciate it fully

There’s a Bill Evans record I really like, I think it’s with his trio right around this time. For the life of me I can’t remember what it’s called, I want to say Impressions? Any way this is okay, great playing but not groundbreaking.

Lovely jazz piano. Bill Evans is my favourite jazz pianist and this is an absolute classic by him: it has a more mellow, down-beat feel than something like Monk that speaks to my sad-boy vibes. Would likely rate 5/5 if I had listened to it more but it isn't one of my staples (yet). We're on a 4.5/5

I love jazzz

Bbbbbbbbbbbangerzzz

Chill live jazz improvisations to relax and study to

The first thing I noticed about this is how accessible this album is. I would bet I could play this to a hardcore jazz aficionado or someone who didn't listen to any jazz and they would enjoy it. The recording and the playing on this is masterful. Orrin Keepnews the produced is as much to credit hear as the band as he captured this performance so well.

Solid.

Jazz canónico. Un 4.

What a wonderful treat.

Loved it

I went down a Wiki rabbit hole about the Village Vanguard - it's the oldest jazz club in NYC that's still in operation, and so many big careers were launched. This album was so soothing to listen to. I love the ambiance of everyone dining too. If I ever make it to NYC to visit, I'll make a point of going there to visit the Village Vanguard. Super interesting trio - they made a point to give all three of them equal melodic responsibility, which I think I'm paraphrasing from the Spotify bio. But it was interesting to listen with that in mind.

That was jazz.

Good classic jazz. Had no serious problems with this. I have yo say though that the bass improv was the worst part, which was sad.

One of the best albums on the list that I hadn't heard before I began this project. Solid four stars.

Very barebones jazz. I enjoy it a lot though, builds an excellent atmosphere. Sounds Christmas-adjacent, so 'tis sort of the season. It's a live album, which I never would've guessed if it wasn't stated in the title because it all sounds like studio quality. There's clapping to be heard, but that could be the musicians' families in the studio? I don't know, the point is it's jazz baby, it sounds great. Favorite tracks: Alice In Wonderland, Gloria's Step, My Man's Gone Now. Album art: Really nothing much at all, just a portrait. I would've opted for something more artistic, representative of the mood. 4/5

This was lovely

Do you like Jazz? This was easy listening whilst at work, and I'd happily listen to it working again.

This is hard to rate. If I was into jazz this would be a 5/5. If it was about whether or not I'd ever play this album again it'd be a 2/5. If it was about me trying to seem sophisticated to house guests it'd be a 5/5 again. I do like jazz. But not this much. I did enjoy it a lot and my productivity increased. 4/5 it is

You have to immerse yourself in this. One of those albums you can just swim in.

Bill Evans died in 1980 when he was just 51 years old. This seems impossible considering that he appears to be at least 70 years old on the cover of this 1961 album. So it was a hard 51 for Evans, and that's before you learn about his intense addictions to both heroin and coke. I'm 51 years old as I write this sentence while listening to this classic album. I've now listened to 199 albums from a subjective list, the majority of which Bill Evans never got to hear. And guess what else, Bill? I still have plenty of time to get hooked on heroin and cocaine. I'm chalking that up as a win.

I like jazzzz (4 z 4 étoiles)

very smooth

You know I'm gonna love a live jazz album Saved: Gloria's Step - Take 2, Alice in Wonderland - Take 2*

Saved Prior: None Off Rip: Gloria's Step (Take 2), My Man's Gone Now, Solar Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: Hell yeah. Interplay between the trio is top stuff. Also cool that the bonus tracks, which amount to different takes of songs already on the album, are placed right next to the ones selected for the original album so you can hear the differences.

What an insane bass player

Sunday at the Village Vanguard by The Bill Evans Trio (1961) For those who, like me, have limited but pleasant experiences of progressive jazz, this album is a treat, however difficult it is to fully understand. Hopscotching in an orderly manner around the circle of fifths, Bill Evans on piano leads the trio with delicate and colorful elaborations, paced by steady but subdued rhythms on (mostly) snare and cymbals by drummer Paul Motian. But the most entrancing work on this record is delivered by bassist Scott LaFaro, whose virtuosity is dazzling. His composition “Jade Visions”, the closing track, is mesmerizing. Sadly, LaFaro died in a car accident ten days after this performance. The most melodically accessible track “Alice in Wonderland” is a good place to start. For those who love drum solos, check out the trio’s cover of Cole Porter’s “All of You”—skillful if not ambitious. As a live album, it is burdened by the distracting audience noise, droning along in the background by the small assembled crowd who are obviously not engaged in a serious listen. They’re not just ordering drinks. And their tepid, polite, and seemingly obligatory applause at the end of each number is anticlimactic. But that’s live jazz. Sigh. 4/5

Soothing and relaxing. A beautiful piece of work. But it’s hard to judge it against popular genres.

Classic jazz, never gets too crazy or experimental, but still keeps your attention. Bass playing is next level.

Chulada.

Yeah, that's the good stuff.

Nice smoky, atmospheric jazz. The live setting and the background noise of the crowd add to the mood. This one gets better the more you listen to it, and what initially sounds a bit dense and impenetrable starts to make much more sense as your ears adjust and you begin to understand the perfect harmony and synchronicity that has been achieved between the piano, drums and bass.

Good quality jazz

Maybe it’s not Jazz that I find stressful it’s shrill trumpets. As a simple trio I found this enjoyable.

Jazz instrumental

solid jazz album, nothing too crazy

Enjoyed it!

4.5

very nice, pinicle of cool jazz

Jazz isn't for everybody, but I would implore everybody listen to this record. There are few musical acts that can obtain the synchronicity between members than that of the Bill Evans Trio. All musicians here are phenomenal and masters of their craft, but to me, Scott LaFaro and his bass are the star of the show. He takes the use of bass in jazz music up to this point and really expands its horizons. It becomes a melodic feature rather than just a background accompaniment. I'm not a jazz aficionado, so the genre takes a backseat in my active listening habits, but this is some of the best sounding jazz I've ever heard.

I have often relied on Bill Evan's music to relax. This album exemplifies what I like about his stuff - skillful yet low key, moody. The glasses clinking and occasional voices coming through really set the mood, you can imagine the setting.

The history of the Bill Evans Trio is very sad. The bass player on this album, Scott LaFaro, died about 10 days after this was recorded in a car accident. Bill Evans went on to become addicted to drugs and died after ending treatment for syphilis. They made fantastic music together.

71. Encontrei o ator Luís Aleluia no restaurante O Léo do Choco, no coração de Setúbal. Por acidente, estávamos a usar a mesma camisa caqui, ele na manga esquerda e eu na direita. Lá tive que lhe dar um abraço ao som dos Scorpions, o tipo de represália que a CIA definitivamente não previu nos anos 80. Disse-lhe que era muito fã dos Washington Wizards e ele começou a fazer uma dança esquisita em que batia com os calcanhares no lancil ao ritmo de Guantanamera. Eu achei um piadão. Ele não. Começou a tagarelar sobre as aberturas de Bobby Fischer e como, sozinhas, derrubaram toda a noção clássica do Ocidente. Quase lhe caiu o boné da Lacatoni. Assim que recebemos a dose de bacalhau à zé do pipo, mandámos para trás e gritámos a "Don't Look Back in Anger" na cara do empregado. Deviam ter visto. O coitado vomitou-se em jacto por cima da mesa da vereadora. Eu fui buscar uma Vileda à despensa mas o Luís ficou a acalmá-lo com as melhores anedotas do Fernando Rocha que tinha ainda guardadas na caixa de SMS. O licor de pepperoni foi por conta da casa. Bela noite, oh Luís. Que caos organizado. MotA: "Alice in Wonderland - Take 2"

Gewoon goeie piano jazz. Lekker hoor - Ruben Koet

chill jazz, very good live

I've never really listened to jazz...but this is good jazz.

this album has an intimate ambiance, really pulls you into the music being played.

Unexpected but pleasant. Will likely listen to again.

A phenomenal jazz album from one of the premier artists of the 60's and arguably ever in jazz. Evans keys and compositions are quite fascinating and continually engaging. And to no surprise if your familiar with the trio, the bass lines are endlessly fascinating as well. It's a wonderful jazz set from one of its masters.

Wonderful jazz album. Very tight, nothing "overly" jazzy. I wished some of it was a bit more exciting though.

Vahry naice

Soy nuevo en esto del jazz, así que un día no basta para dar una calificación(en general para cualquier disco en mi caso, sin embargo aun es más dificil al ser un genero desconocido para mi) sin embargo mis primeras impresiones son de asombro, es increible todo lo que puedes hacer con un piano, un contrabajo y una bateria, esos solos respectivos de cada instrumento si se sintieron, en especial el del contrabajo, me dejó embelesado.

i enjoyed this but prob i will listen to again. love the bass

Really enjoyed the house band vibes.

jazzinho brabo pra se ouvir em qlqr situação relaxante, mt foda nn tem como nao gostar

Always enjoy a bit of piano jazz.

very good album personally, i lreally liked the improvised bits in each song especially the piano. the bass wasnt quite right but still very enjoyable

Bialy czlek co umial w murzynska muzyke, tak najkrocej bym okreslil pana Evansa, tutaj w legendarndym bandowym trio LaFaro na basiorze i Motianie na drumsach, byl to chyba jeden z ostatnich nagran dla zginietego w wypadku faro, a z pewnoscia w takim skladzie evansowym, czy to tez wplynelo na to jak legendarnym stalo sie to nagranie i okresla sie go jako najlepszy livowy wystep jazzowania w historii, nikt nie laczyl bialego cool jazzu z czarnym bebopem jak evans, a w tym skladzie slychac ze wszyscy graja zgodnie z ta idea, co slychac, a nawet czuc jesli bierze sie pod uwage jeden utwor w 2 roznych tejkach na co pozwala spotifajowa wersja, ktora posiada kilka bonusowych trakow i z 42 inut orginalnego wydania robi sie 68, taka roznice robi wlasnie gloria steps w 3 tejku, czyli jedna z dwoch orginalnych kompozcji basiorowca bandowego, reszta trakow to kompozycje innych artystow, w tym nawet davisa, czyli solar, ktory i tak byl podjebany od jeszcze kogos innego, ale davis sobie kopy rajta na niego zrobil po udoskonaleniu, jak to czesto bywalo wsrod jazzowatych gangsterow, kolejnym gemem bonusowym jest alicja z krainy czarow, moze jeden z najbardziej zanieczyszczonych trakow na albumie pod wzgledem szumow livowych, ale tam mnie wlasnie evansowe klawiszowanie najbardziej urzeklo, dlatego te traki laduja na plejce, brakuje mi miejsca na livowe jazzowe traki, chyba bedzie trzeba nowa plajliste powolac do zycia, co mi najbardziej przeszkadzalo w odsluchu, to wlasnie wspomniane szumerowanie z widowni no i mankamenty techniczne nagrywania livowego z roku 61, ktorych mozna oczekiwac po takich rekordach, glownie dlatego ocena taka a nie inna

Ich bin da echt ein Schönwetter Jazzer, bzw. mag ich das anschmiegsam-entspannte des Bar Sounds wie dem des Bill Evans Trios. Und ist der Frühling etwas rauer als sonst und drischt der Hagel hart gegen die Fenster, so legen sich das dezente Piano und sein deutlich akzentuierter Bass wärmend wie ein schöner Seidenschal über den dahinplätschernden Morgen, Tag, Abend, ... Schummerige 4.4

Ich finds ganz wunderbar!

Interesting album

Jazz

I liked this album because it was easy to listen to but it didn't blow me away.

impressive and beautiful

Un poquito de blues , está interesante

ya like jazz? uhhh yes.

this is such a nice jazz it's def gonna be a go-to in the future

Echt lekkere jazz, goed weg te luisteren. Echt goed sfeertje

I haven't listened to a lot of jazz in my life, but I've really enjoyed listening to this album. I think the recent release of Pixar's Soul is influencing me right now, but I now have an interest in learning some music theory to better understand and appreciate jazz

Perfect for a Sunday morning

very jazz, not too out there

really cool jazz album, I wish it were longer though

Didn't finish the album but I plan on going back

not really my thing, but good background music.

Good jazz

Nice, unimposing jazz for easy listening. Ruthlessly forgettable but in the right setting could repeat for hours without getting tired of it. No favorites bc everything sounded pretty much the same to me

Enjoyable for sure but not much to it. I’m sure my Jazz boys (Thomas & Joey) can offer some more in-depth analysis. But for me to love a jazz album I have to feel it in my bones. This didn’t quite hit the mark but still very enjoyable. Low 7/10

Yeah, this is good listening.

People are talking in the background. I guess they’re also bored…

This sounded crisp on my Swans OS-10. Incredible that it was recorded in the early 60s. Relaxing jazz, didn’t find myself getting bored. Would be great to listen to in a dimly lit bar with a martini.

While I don’t regularly listen to jazz, I always appreciate a well-executed jazz show. This one hits that mark. Great musicians performing their craft with emotion.

I just don’t resonate with regular jazz music. I can appreciate the contribution to music forms that I like.

This live jazz album is chock full of rambling improvisation that doesn't always lead anywhere. There are six songs and although undoubtedly very well played, none of them struck me as particularly memorable or engaging. I have to be in the mood for some heavy noodling to really enjoy this kind of stuff. A perfectly decent jazz record and the sound quality is surprisingly vivid.

Great background music, loved the double bass.

Pretty nice. I haven’t heard enough jazz to know where this holds up, but I enjoyed it.

Jaaaaazzzzz

Pleasant. Still don’t get jazz.

It's lovely. It has two problems for me. The first it that it's almost too smooth, too clean. When I'm in the mood for jazz I want to be at least somewhat concerned that the wheels are coming off and the beast is gonna crash. The second problem is that I have to be in the mood for jazz and today is definitely NOT one of those moods. This album really is lovely though, so maybe I'll try it again some slow Sunday morning watching the rain with a cup of coffee.

Jazz, great for background, tiresome for active listening.

Perfectly enjoyable, but far from anything mindblowing. This was just a really nice jazz album to have on in the background, but to be honest I don't really see myself ever really listening to it in any other way. I just don't think it has quite enough substance to be something I would actually enjoy listening to for the sake of it. It's nice and chill, and I do love more piano focused jazz, but this just doesn't really have as much going for it as other jazz albums. I don't want to call it "plain," because on the whole I did still like it, but there are just other albums that do what this one does but better.

I think the Jazz albums have been spaced out enough that they dont earn my ire unlike the British Punk Rock album infecting this list. Its a softer jazz that doesnt overwhelm you and gives you space to think. I really really wish they had some horns in there though, it really fills out the genre. My other issue is that with this kind of Jazz its hard to point to specific parts of songs or performances, so you need to take it in as a whole, and maybe thats the point? I dunno. Talented, no doubt, but if you're not a jazzhead its probably a pass.

More jazz