Additional information
Tracks selected by Herbie Hancock. Personnel includes: Bill Evans (piano); Stan Getz (tenor saxophone); Jim Hall (guitar); Chuck Israels, Monty Budwig, Ron Carter, Eddie Gomez (bass); Larry Bunker, Shelly Manne, Elvin Jones, Arnold Wise, Jack DeJohnette (drums). Producers: Creed Taylor, Helen Keane. Compilation producer: Richard Seidel. Recorded between 1964 and 1968. Includes liner notes by Bob Blumenthal and Herbie Hancock (as told to Don Heckman.) This is part of the Ultimate Verve series. The title is slightly misleading, as this collection is not a general overview of Evans' years at Verve Records but a hand-picked selection by Evans acolyte--and fellow former Miles Davis pianist--Herbie Hancock. Hancock chose wisely, presenting 13 tracks recorded from 1963 to 1968 in a variety of settings, from solo piano pieces ("A Time For Love," "I Loves You, Porgy" and a staggering, overdubbed "'Round Midnight") to his usual trio sides. The album's twin centerpieces are a lengthy pair of duets, Evans and guitarist Jim Hall's lovely "Turn Out the Stars" and Evans and tenor great Stan Getz's "Funkallero," which between them illustrate both sides of Evans' musical personality, his lyricism and his innovative use of rhythm. While not definitive, THE ULTIMATE BILL EVANS is a more than worthwhile introduction to Evans' mid-'60s work.
