William John Evans, better known as Bill Evans, was one of the most influential jazz pianists ever, a formative piano- poet, and „one of the most popular jazz musicians of his generation.“
The 10-CD box set „Blue In Green - The Best Of The Early Years 1955 to 1960“ „combines the most important albums of the early work of this master - in original and full-length versions.
In addition to the albums „New Jazz Conceptions“, „Everybody Digs Bill Evans“ and „Portrait In Jazz“, which Evans recorded with his trio, some other masterpieces are heard, showing him as a sideman with some great
colleagues: Charlie Mingus, Art Farmer, Bob Brookmeyer, George Russell, Eddie Costa are among the jazz greats who discovered the talents of the pianist from New Jersey early on.
Of course, Miles Davis‘ „Kind of Blue“ is also included, a classic album to which Evans contributed the composition „Blue In Green“ – and more.
CD 10 presents some rare recordings that show Evans as an accompanist to Jazz singers: first from the album „The Singing Reed“ of singer Lucy Reed, which Evans recorded in 1955 – and also three extremely rare Vocalese versions of songs from Miles Davis’ repertoire ‚, sung by the legendary singer Frank Minion, accompanied by the entire David- band of the time (minus Davis), recorded shortly after the recording of “Kind Of Blue” in New York.
A great presentation of a Jazz giant – at an unbeatable price.