Bill Evans - Live at Art d'Lugoff's Top Of The Gate (2012/2017 [Official Digital Download 24-bit/192kHz]

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Bill Evans - Live at Art d'Lugoff's Top Of The Gate (2012/2017 [Official Digital Download 24-bit/192kHz]

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Bill Evans - Live at Art d'Lugoff's Top Of The Gate (2012/2017
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/192 kHz | Time - 89:50 minutes | 3,15 GB
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/96 kHz | Time - 89:50 minutes | 1,74 GB
Studio Master, Official Digital Download | Artwork: Digital booklet

The album Live at Art D'Lugoff's Top of the Gate, offers listeners a table at the front of the stage for a stellar performance by one of jazz's greatest trios. It's October 23, 1968 in Greenwich Village, The lineup that night consisted of three musicians in their prime: Evans, bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Marty Morell. Evans had, reportedly, kicked his drug habit during this period, and this was thought by many to be his most stable and, certainly, longest-lasting group. This trio was together until 1975. Evans is in both swinging and contemplative modes and highlights the trio's superb interaction. Gomez had been with Evans since 1966, while Morell came aboard in 1968; Gomez was a master improviser, while Morell was an energetic, straight-ahead drummer, always keeping the trio on track. Along with the leader, both contribute masterful solos here. The album features two complete sets, including two versions of three songs. There is one original ("Turn Out the Stars"); the rest are jazz standards and familiar show tunes. Throughout the two sets, Evans showcases his gift for interpreting standards, over the seventeen tracks. "My Funny Valentine" moves effortlessly from tenderness to passion, while "Gone with the Wind" erupts at a breakneck pace and "Here's That Rainy Day" concludes the evening with heart-breaking emotion. Students of Evans' music will be delighted to see that three pieces ("Emily," "Yesterdays," and "'Round Midnight") are represented in both the first and second sets, offering a rare opportunity to compare the soloists' diverging takes on the same tunes in a single evening. Also, several of the selections possess historic significance: both "My Funny Valentine" and "Here's That Rainy Day" (and possibly "Mother of Earl") mark Evans' first documented trio performances of those songs, while "Here's That Rainy Day" may be the first time Evans recorded that piece period.

For the 2xHD transfer of this recording, the original 1/4”, 15 ips NAB master tape was played on a Nagra-T modified with high end tube playback electronics, wired with OCC silver cable from the playback head direct to a Telefunken EF806 tube. The Nagra T has one of the best transports ever made, having four direct drive motors, two pinch rollers and a tape tension head.

2xHD mastering: René Laflamme and André Perry. 2xHD executive producer: André Perry.