Bill Evans - California Here I Come (Verve Vault Series, 2LP Vinyl)

Six years after the legendary live sets that yielded two of Bill Evans’ best-loved albums for Riverside, Sunday at the Village Vanguard and Waltz for Debby, the influential jazz pianist returned to the same Manhattan jazz club for two nights in 1967, in a rare trio setting with Eddie Gomez on bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums. The recordings were compiled on the perhaps confusingly titled double album, California Here I Come, in 1982, issued two years after Evans’ passing. Despite the perceived coastal mix-up, one thing is clear: Evans and his rhythm section were in fine form, delivering unbridled spirit, rhythmic fire and high-energy interplay with each other on readings of standards like, “‘Round Midnight,” “In a Sentimental Mood,” “Stella by Starlight,” and the then-new Bacharach/David standout “Alfie.” The Verve Vault series is all-analog, cut from the original master tapes by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound and pressed on 180-gram vinyl.

- Disc 1 -
1 California Here I Come
2 Polka Dots and Moonbeams
3 Turn Out the Stars
4 Stella By Starlight
5 You're Gonna Hear from Me
6 In a Sentimental Mood
7 G Waltz
8 Green Dolphin Street
- Disc 2 -
1 Gone with the Wind
2 If You Could See Me Now
3 Alfie
4 Very Early
5 'Round Midnight
6 Emily
7 Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams