Customer Reviews

The Complete Bill Evans On Verve

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Okay, I'm going to break the rules here a little (hey, I'm a good customer--Amazon will forgive me). I want to tell you about my experience with the metal box--a real work of art. Anyway, we've heard that the music here is just super. Bill Evans always seemed to deliver. Now, I bought the set today, but we all know that it's been around a while (1997). When I receaved mine, I had to open it with an old t-shirt on so I wouldn't ruin any good clothes (the rust was everywhere. Then, I thought well it might be nice to hear some of the music. Now we have the problem of first opening the deadly sharp metal box, finding another somewhat less rusty metal disc holder to deal with, then trying to get the discs out of that without droping them on the floor as they flop unexpectedly from the inner metal disc holder. My answer to this mess: I'll put the discs in a CD wallet and put the "beautiful" box on display (away from other discs so that it will not continue to do that much loved rust thing all over my expensive collection on Japanese imports. Five stars for the music, or course. And another five for the worst concept in box sets ever.

Like all of the other reviewers, I love the music on this set of 18 CDs. But the package is absolutely ridiculous!!!

Here's what I did about it. First there are two problems with the packaging: the rusty metal case which gets rust all over my fingers and clothes and the glue from inside the CD sleeves which gets on the CDs and is impossible to get off rendering the CDs unplayable. When I got my first set, I noticed the glue on the CDs. Later, when I tried to play the CDs, the glue caused the laser to skip. I tried to get the glue off but was unable. I contacted Verve records. Although they offered to send me a few replacement discs, they never actually delivered. When I called to follow-up, they just blew me off.

During the time I had this first set, it rusted quite a bit and I got the rust all over my hands and clothes. I returned this set and received a new one. While I was waiting for the new one, I thought about how I was going to deal with the rust. My solution, I purchased a spray can of quick drying lacquer. I thought, as soon as the new package arrives, I'll spray the metal with lacquer.

Great idea! When the new set arrived, it had a little rust on it which I cleaned off with some 000 steel wool then gave it a quick spray of lacquer.

As far as the glue goes, this set also had some glue on the CDs but I was able to clean it off. Now, I don't keep the CDs in the package so I don't get anymore glue on them and the package isn't rusting!

Is this too much to go through for a $300 set?

Verve, just throw the package out!!!

Without a doubt, Bill Evans' total output on Verve contains some of the greatest jazz ever recorded, period. Within are the milestones (discs 2 & 12-"Conversations with Myself" and "Further Conversations"), the sublime (discs 9 & 10-"Live at Town Hall" and "Intermodulation" duets with Jim Hall), and a lot of repetetive, more ordinary things (disc 7 with vocalist Monica Zetterlund). So if you aren't a hard-core collector who appreciates all the outtakes (many gems on discs 16-18, "From Left to Right" outtakes) and different live versions of the same tunes, I suggest buying the individual masterpieces. The too-cute case and packaging is hard to use. Mine is rusted already, and tough to handle.

Over the years, I, too, have struggled with the rusting steel box. It may be a work of art but is so troublesome to handle. Who on earth came up with that idea? Art Director and Designer Patricia Lie? Nobody is lying when they complain about the metal box. These previous reviews are must read, because some of them well prepare prospective buyers for innevitable troubles ahead.
For Bill Evans buffs, most of the music here is great with the sound quality superior to what appeared in previously released original CDs and LPs. Thank god for the improved digital remastering. You even get to hear Bill singing Santa Claus Coming To Town. It's out of tune, but it's Bill Evans singing. I particularly liked the sessions from Trident Club in 1964 and Village Vanguard in 1967. It must be said, however, that it takes a hard core Billevansphile not only to appreciate but even to put up with some of the tunes, both complete and incomplete, played over and over as part of the recording process. And those repeated repertoires are not those famous and polular ones.
The booklet is outstanding not only in content but also as a work of art. I really got a lot out of the panel discussion on Bill by those surviving fellow jazz pianists and all those former side men of Bill Evans Trios, ranging from Paul Motian to Mark Johnson, who need no introduction to those Bill Evans enthusiasts. What makes me wonder and sad is why Bill never played my most favorite tune Waltz for Debby during his Verve years.

Wow. What a behemoth. I had looked & looked for this set - which is now out-of-print - and finally settled on a used copy, located in one of the amazon marketplace seller shops. First, let me say thanks to the marketplace seller (jazzyfreddy, by the way); the set is just as advertised: All 18 CD's are in tip-top shape, the artwork and booklet are immaculate (as immaculate as a metal box designed to rust can be) and the turnaround time on the order was very very fast. So, right off the bat, the experience was a good one.

And it got better. Several reviews of this item on amazon almost scared me off of buying the set. Most of the negative reviews centered around the cumbersome packaging and the possibility that some of the discs (housed only in vellum paper sleeves) might have glue on them, rendering them unplayable. And, after paying almost $400.00 for the set, if this had been the case, I would have been as upset as those reviewers.

But, I took the leap and I guess I was lucky. No problems with the discs and the metal box packaging . . . well, OK . . . it's cumbersome. But it's also very unique and I actually like it. Are the discs difficult to get out of (and back into)the sleeves? Yes. Does it pay to have some empty jewel boxes around for easy transport and for in-car playing? Yes again. Does the metal box rust - and will it continue to rust into perpetuity? Yes. But, once you climb these relatively small hurdles, you find that the music contained in these 18 discs makes all the hastle worthwhile.

This set represents, in some ways, the most experimental period of Evans' career. Why? Because you get Evans in a variety of settings, most well out of the comfort zone of his usual trio setup. You get Bill with strings, you get Bill with larger combos, you get solo Bill, you get Bill with vocalist, you get Bill on electric piano (admittedly, not my favorite Bill). And yes, you even get Bill in his favorite spot, leading a trio. But - like the packaging - this set is unique in presenting Evans in these varied and adventurous musical environments.

I currently own several Bill Evans box sets, from every period in his career - not to mention several individual discs from his later years. All of the music is great; much of it is simply sublime. This set - which took almost a month to get through - is no different. If I had a "problem" (probably the wrong word) with the Complete Bill Evans on Verve, it is a minor one: I don't think Bill Evans translates well on electric piano any more than Django Reinhardt does on electric guitar. There is a certain novelty to hearing Evans "go electric", but his bread-and-butter - indeed, his identity - is on the acoustic piano. Fortunately, the majority of this set (actually, the majority of Evans' recorded work) is on acoustic piano. And, as anyone considering a set like this knows, there has never been a more completely talented and influential pianist in the history of jazz than Bill Evans.

If you love Bill Evans' music or just love great jazz centered around piano playing, this set is worth seeking out. While officially out-of-print, new copies can be found (check amazon & ebay), but I recommend a used copy. That way, you can avoid some of the packaging pitfalls if you know the set has already been played and trust the seller when he says everything is kosher (thanks again, jazzyfreddy).

As another talented artist once said, Rust Never Sleeps and, at least for the 21 hours represented on these 18 discs, you won't either. Bill Evans' sublime beauty simply won't let you.

The music,of course,is wonderful

But, please pay heed to the remarks of
other reviewers regarding glue residue
on a couple of the discs in this set.

I have purchased this set twice via used
re-sellers on amazon. It is a credit to them that each
provided a full refund upon return.

I just wish I could get my hands on a clean
version of this set.

I have been looking for Evans recording of "Sweet September" for several years and figured it would surely be on the "Complete" set. Alas, no such luck.

It was issued in 65/66 on 45 B/W Theme from the VIP'S". Maybe if they look closely in the vaults, there may be other tracks as well.

It's worth every penny: in a handsome steel box (that will age beautifully into a rusty case) there is all the Bill Evans we could ever want. I never get tired of it. Highly recommended!