Empathy: Simple Matter of Conviction [Import]

Bill Evans | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: February 21, 1989
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Universal I.S.
• ASIN: B00000478L
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #101,808 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Evans, January 8, 2000

By 

Frank Bock - See all my reviews

This review is from: Empathy: Simple Matter of Conviction (Audio CD)

This is a more unknown albeit good session by Evans. Actually its two... one from '62, the other, '66. Both have Shelly Manne which is an interesting twist for Evans. In my opinion he sounds much different with Manne than he did with any other drummer, almost avante garde at times.

Starting the album with Irving Berlin's Washington Twist, Evans and Manne sound almost Brubeck-ish and even forceful, without sounding forced or silly. Other songs, like the second track, Danny Boy feauture Evans playing at his most sensitive and quiet. Very pretty.

Session two (with Eddie Gomez on bass, instead of Monty Budwig) has a bunch of Evans originals, including A Simple Matter Of Conviction, which is neat and quirky, plus Orbit (Unless it's you) which is pretty good and conventional. The last two originals are Only Child which is quite pretty, and These Things Called Changes which is more uptempo and shiney. These songs are pretty obscure for Evans, thus making this cd almost essential and unique. Pick it up.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Evans, November 15, 2004

By 

B. J Robbins (La Quinta, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Empathy: Simple Matter of Conviction (Audio CD)

I have been listening to Bill Evans for more years than I care to think of, and have many of his 33 rpm albums. Having said that, "Empathy" is one of my favorite albums and I think one of his best. Now, I know I will get a lot of flak from other Evans fans who consider his best years were with Scott La Faro, but hear me out.

Evans' playing on this album (6 cuts) range from the joyful, ebulliant, to the pensive, moody Evans we often associate with him. "With a Song in My Heart" and "Washington Twist" (by Irving Berlin, no less), are bouncing, joyful outings, as are "I Believe in You" and "Let's Go Back to th e Waltz". The two ballads, "Goodbye" and "Danny Boy" are a combination of one-note and brilliant chordal playing, with clusters and complex, two-handed chords, all the while with soaring melodies. "Danny Boy" is notable for its sad, lonely aura, while "Goodbye" has some very forceful, bluesy playing by Evans.

I think this is Bill Evans at his best. No fan, or novice, should consider his collection complete until they have listened to this at least once. You won't be sorry!!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lover's of Bill Evan's Must Own This, October 26, 2000

By 

Chad A. Lauterbach "chadl2" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Empathy: Simple Matter of Conviction (Audio CD)

These two Bill Evan's Sessions differ greatly from your standard Evan's album's. However, it is a very unique look at his skill in playing others music beautifully. He only has a few originals on these two albums. This is not a Bill Evan's starter kit, but should be owned and loved by his fans.