Play The Arrangements Of Jimmy Giuffre [Remastered] - Bill Evans & Lee Konitz

Advantages: Moving, beautiful harmonies and solos.
Disadvantages: Not everyone likes jazz

...Over the years my taste in different jazz styles has changed, but Bill Evans still stands out as one of my favourite musicians; the artist who originally enticed me into the world of Jazz, and whose work has significantly affected my own style as a Jazz pianist. Recoded in 1981, ‘You Must Believe Ins Spring’ contains pieces of a less upbeat and syncopated style than that of his earlier work, and instead more flowing, beautiful pieces, played with the heart-felt lyricism for which Evans is renowned. Sticking to a jazz trio form, (piano with drums and double bass), Evan’s creates the perfect atmosphere in each piece through subtle textures and natural, unspoken collaboration with his fellow musicians. Being a huge fan of Evans I may appear somewhat biased in his favour; the album is after all one my favourite. But anyone who has some... Read review

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Advantages: Good
Disadvantages: Bad

...such a mystique — if it was possible, it wouldn't have mystique — but surely much of it has to do with the exceptional band playing at the peak of its power. After all, this is hardly Miles' show alone. Pianist Bill Evans was instrumental in pushing Davis toward modal music, and tenor saxophonist John Coltrane was eager to follow. Those three are joined by Cannonball Adderly on alto sax, Jimmy Cobb on drums, and the incomparable bassist Paul Chambers (pianist Wynton Kelly sits in for Evans on "Freddie Freeloader"). As Evans said in the original liner notes for the record, the band did not play through any of these pieces prior to recording. Davis laid out the themes and chords just before the tape rolled, and then the band improvised through each composition. Improvisation had always been a large part of jazz, but this kind of preplanned, unrehearsed... Read review

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Advantages: Outstanding music from outstanding musicians
Disadvantages: None

...In Kind of Blue, Miles Davis created a timeless album which epitomised the period of 'cool jazz' between bebop and fusion. The personnel list is impressive - Cannonball Adderly on alto and Coltrane on tenor were also in extremely productive periods at the time, and their solos on Kind of Blue, especially the two alternate Flamenco Sketches takes, are great examples of their styles, which both contrast and complement the other's. Although "So What" is remembered as the highlight of the album by most, I think Freddie Freeloader and Blue in Green are the outstanding tracks. The decision to use his new pianist Wynton Kelly instead of Bill Evans on Freddie Freeloader was inspired - Kelly's solo is sublime. This wasn't my introduction to jazz, but it was the album which sold the genre to me. Miles, forever the innovator, later said he couldn... Read review

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