Customer Reviews

Plays The Theme From V.I.P.'s and Others

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When Verve issued "The Complete Bill Evans on Verve" in 1997 they elected not to include this album even though all the other Evans MGM releases had been. Peter Pettinger's excellent bio of the pianist reveals Evans had mixed feelings about the romantic, commercial sound of the album, so perhaps Verve initially wanted to keep these mostly non-jazz tracks off the 18-CD set. But now here they are as part of Verve's "Originals" series, with a reproduction of the front and back of the LP as part of the packaging. The master tapes have suffered some deterioration over the years, but it is good to have this missing link in the Evans/Verve discography back in circulation.

That's the good news. Now for the bad. Even though it has been documented elsewhere, nowhere in the release is Claus Ogerman's name mentioned except as co-author (with Evans) of the track "Hollywood." The legendary arranger-conductor fulfilled those roles on this album but is uncreditited (as he was on the LP). But the worst news for Evans completists is that the one track recorded at these sessions but not included on the orginal LP but released on a 45 rpm single and on 33 rpm as part of the soundtrack "Twilight of Honor" (MGM SE 4195) is not part of this new CD. "55 Days in Peking" by Dimitri Tiomkin lasts only 2:36 and could have easily fit.

If you enjoy movie themes with a light-Latin flavored accompaniment as was typical of the easy listening Bossa Nova-infused '60s, then this CD is for you.

I remember seeing a comedy a while back in which a group of
people in a packed elevator rushed out with their hands over
their ears when the doors opened with a BLARING "McArthur
Park" playing on the elevator speakers. Muzak from Hell! I was
playing "V.I.P.'s" in my car the other day on the way to work
listening to it for the first time - I literally laughed out loud, as
this music reminded me of that scene. Bill's playing on "V.I.P.'s" is
NOT what triggered this - it's those GOD-AWFUL strings by Oger-
man. I'm a serious Bill Evans collector. I, too, have the complete
Verve Evans 18 cd set (in that metal case), along with hundreds
of other Evans recordings. My all-time favorite Evans item is the
brilliant 1974 MPS "Symbiosis", with Bill's trio at that time and
Claus Ogerman's orchestra. I'm also a serious Ogerman collector,
as well - I LOVE his work. I had known "V.I.P.'s" was not included
in the complete Verve Evans set. So when I saw that it had been
issued on cd recently, I had to have it. I can fully understand now
WHY it wasn't included. Okay, there are a few cuts on it that do
hint at what Bill was capable of ("Hollywood", an Evans/Ogerman
original is what saves the cd for me). This album was OBVIOUSLY
not intended for serious jazz listeners. 99% of what Bill Evans did
in his lifetime proved why he was a genius. This was a very, very
brief mis-step towards the commercial, easy listening market. It
STILL has value for historical and collecting purposes - it DOES
complete a link that was missing (even though it's a weak link).
"V.I.P.'s" is a mis-step for Claus, as well. If he had toned DOWN
and perhaps, re-arranged his strings for a more soothing touch, it
could only have helped. But, a mis-step is a mis-step. I'm giving
this a very WOBBLY 3 stars, ONLY because it's Bill Evans and Claus
Ogerman, who, like us all, had an off day, and I KNOW (and they
proved it countless times) they both had FAR more depth and talent
than what is on "V.I.P.'s". I will keep my copy, as I really DO now
have the complete Bill Evans on Verve. And, finally, Creed Taylor,
who produced "V.I.P.'s", should certainly share some responsibility
for the final product. Moreover, there are probably people out there
who actually LOVE this sort of thing - to each his own. It's just not
my cup-of-tea.

As stated in another review,this is Bill Evans unashamed foray into commercial instrumental pop,circa 1963. Till buying this CD,I had only heard one track,"Sweet September". West Coast pianist Pete Jolly had a fair sized hit with this song at the same time. Jolly's interpretation of that song was a joyful,quick tempoed attack(that held up even better without strings),while Evans(and Claus Ogerman)use a leaden approach trying to channel Oliver Nelson and Jimmy Smith's "Walk On the Wild Side". Records like this were used at MOR radio in the 1960s, with a DJ grabbing the first available instrumental that fit the time leading up to news broadcasts. It didn't matter whose "Sweet September",as long as it ended on time.
The rest of the album has that movie/TV theme sound with nameless piano player and nameless arranger you would find on one of those "Living Strings" albums Ethel Gabriel churned out for RCA's budget label,Camden. What a hilarious "Blindfold Test" is would have made. Bright moments hidden between the schmalz is the lone original,"Hollywood" and the first thrity seconds of "Laura". On "Laura",you can hear Evans slowly deconstructing the melody and one hopes that it could go on longer till he found that moment of heartbreak. Unfortunately,Claus takes over from there and all is lost.
I own the "Complete Verve"recordings and have wondered why they kept this album off the box. Now I know. One wonders how this album made it to CD,especially in these mp3 days where Universal has kept many a true jazz gem only available as a download.

If you are expecting another masterpiece along the lines of the Bill Evans Trio: With Symphony Orchestra or Symbiosis, this, unfortunately, is not it. Rather, this is Bill's foray into commercial pablum. Disappointing!