This magnificent 12-CD set contains all of
Bill Evans' Riverside recordings as a leader, an extremely important period in the influential pianist's development. The first session predates Evans' period with
the Miles Davis Sextet and other significant sessions include his sets with bassist
Scott LaFaro and drummer
Paul Motian (highlighted by the marathon Village Vanguard session of June 25, 1961), Evans' return nearly a year after LaFaro's death in a car accident with a new trio (consisting of
Motian and bassist
Chuck Israels), a sideman set with altoist
Cannonball Adderley, the Interplay sessions with either trumpeter
Freddie Hubbard or tenor saxophonist
Zoot Sims, an extensive and rather somber solo set, and a 1963 appearance at Shelly's Manne Hole with bassist
Israels and drummer
Larry Bunker. Twenty sessions are released in full, 151 selections in all, including 24 performances that had been previously unissued at the time. Fortunately for listeners with a budget, nearly all of this material has since been reissued on single CDs (mostly as part of the Original Jazz Classics series), but true
Bill Evans fanatics will have to get this remarkable box. ~ Scott Yanow