Bill Evans Trio with Symphony Orchestra

Enrique Granados (Composer), Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Alexander Scriabin (Composer), Bill Evans (Composer), Gabriel Faure (Composer), Claus Ogerman (Composer), Frederic Chopin (Composer), Claus Ogerman (Conductor) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Conductor: Claus Ogerman
• Composer: Enrique Granados, Johann Sebastian Bach, Alexander Scriabin, Bill Evans, Gabriel Faure, et al.
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B0000046UD
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #58,276 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #25 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > Composers > Scriabin, Alexander

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Throughout his career, pianist-composer Bill Evans successfully melded Bud Powell's fiery bop-paced technique with the lyricism and harmonic language of the French impressionists Ravel and Debussy. So it was only natural that he would record a session that combines the jazz and classical traditions.

Released in 1965, this date features Evans's trio with drummer Larry Bunker, who, three decades later, guest-starred on Diana Krall's When I Look in Your Eyes, and the sensitive bassist Larry Bunker. They're augmented by the azure-tinged arrangements by the famed conductor Claus Ogerman, who worked his magic with artists from Antonio Carlos Jobim to Frank Sinatra. The result of this union is a swinging and seamless interplay in which improvisation becomes spontaneous composition, and vice versa. The linearity and logic of Evans's lines erase centuries of musical distance from the works of Bach, Chopin, Granados, Fauré, and Scriabin, with the trio's trademark telepathy expressed in 4/4 and 3/4 time signatures and light Latin tinges. Evans's haunting compositions, "My Bells" and "Time Remembered," imbued by Ogerman's ethereal strings, are the jewels of this delightful recording, whose brilliance has increased with time. --Eugene Holley Jr.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One for the Ages, August 9, 2001

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MICHAEL ACUNA (Southern California United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bill Evans Trio with Symphony Orchestra (Audio CD)

"The Bill Evans Trio with Symphony Orchestra" was one of the first recordings I ever heard...EVER. My Mon used to play the LP while she was carrying me so I really do mean first. With that in mind it has never been far from my CD player for as long as I can remember. From all reports this was a troubled recording session with the arranger and conductor of record, Claus Ogerman having trouble controlling all the elements specifically the pick up orchestra and vocal soloist. Sometimes great things come out of great conflict to paraphrase an old saying. Because, despite all of this this is one of the most glorious recordings ever produced. The Ogerman arrangements are lush and beautiful to the point of distraction. Evans chose the perfect composers to compliment his style and that of his trio. Listen to his rendition of Faure's Pavane or Granados' Granadas. And Ogerman and Evans have also composed two of the tracks themselves. Gorgeous. Lie back on your sofa, turn the volume up, open a bottle of Pinot Noir and let this music take you away.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thomas Zink, June 22, 2000

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Thomas C. Zink (Long Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bill Evans Trio with Symphony Orchestra (Audio CD)

Easily one of the most daring ventures in crossover jazz, this recording was always one of Bill's favorites. Though not without is failings, it is nontheless a brilliant meeting of the minds between Claus Ogerman and Bill Evans, with Ogerman's orchestral arrangements alone being worth the price of the C.D. The trio is swinging and interacting well, although (probably due to the nature of recording with a whole orchestra in a large studio) not at the level of say "The Village Vangard" sessions. Actually one of the greatest drawbacks of the CD is the recorded sound of the trio - the piano in particular. This was probably due to the nature of recording a jazz trio live alongside an orchestra. Once past these minor distractions, however, the CD is a beautiful interweaving of the classical and Jazz traditions taking some of the best elements of each and creating a new blend. Of course to purists of either tradition such an attempt is almost bound to elicit disapointment, but to those with an open mind there is so much in the way of beautiful music that the CD is a constant joy. Although not extremely well know, Evan's knowlege of the classical tradition was deep and broad, as evidenced by his (and Ogerman's) choice of material. The selections range from Bach and Chopin to Faure and Scriabin with the addition of 3 original compositions - all of which are notable for their beautiful melodies and sensative arrangements. There is not a long list of succesful or well recieved attemps to modify the classics into contemporary arrangements, but this is not to say the idea is without legitimacy. Certainly Broadway show tunes (which are the consistent staple for jazz musicians) in their modified version as recorded by say Miles Davis or John Coltrane have about as much (or perhaps even less) similarity to the original version as do these arrangenments to the classics from which they were taken. In either case, the resulting music in the hands of the masters, be they Miles, Evans, or Orgeman is a pleasure to listen to.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still amazing after all these years..., July 23, 2007

By 

Peter O. Swanson (Marshfield Hills, MA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bill Evans Trio with Symphony Orchestra (Audio CD)

Dumb luck... I was given my first copy of this album in the mid-1960's 'cause the program director of a radio station I was working for "didn't play jazz."
It was "kismet." Now I have multiple CD's of Bill Evans with Symphony Orch. - one for each car, and one for home. In spite of some minor technical flaws, this is an absolutely wonderful album to relax to. The orchestral parts are lush and well brought off, and the trio's playing is exceptional. If you have one oar in jazz and another in classical, please do yourself a favor and buy this CD. "You'll thank me later..."