add to wish list | library


14 of 14 recommend this,
would you recommend it?

yes | no

Support this site by purchasing from these vendors using the paid links below. As an Amazon Associate SA-CD.net earns from qualifying purchases.
 
amazon.ca
amazon.co.uk
amazon.com
amazon.de
 
amazon.fr
amazon.it
CDJapan
 

Reviews: Bill Evans: At the Montreux Jazz Festival

Reviews: 4

Review by Croc June 28, 2006 (0 of 1 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:
very very nice disc.
very good live recording which is real fun to listen to.
those drum solos sound very special.

Was this review helpful to you?  yes | no

Review by JW May 8, 2007 (2 of 3 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:
This 1968 Evans date with bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Jack DeJohnette is excellent. Belongs right up there with the other Evans discs like Waltz for Debbie, Moonbeams and Live at the Village Vanguard. In fact I think it's better. That of course begs the question ... can this Japanese Verve dethrone the wonderful APO efforts in terms of sound quality? The answer is yes ! This disc sounds better than the Village Vanguard disc. There is more natural decay, more depth and body to both piano and bass, and more detail and dynamic impact.

I also compared a few tracks with the Portraits in Jazz SA-CD (on Fantasy) - I reviewed it here. I must say that I would not give the Fantasy disc 4 stars anymore. There is so much audible distortion on the overtones (listen to the intro on track 9) that I frankly have no idea why I came to that sonic conclusion at the time. I would say 2 or at best 2.5 stars now. My current system is more resolving, that's the only explanation I have. Still, I should have noticed it...

In any case, if you thought that the APO's were good (and they are) you ought to buy this Verve. The tempi on this set are faster than on the APO sets and if I had to describe the difference I would say that it has a more lively and dynamic feel to it.

Jw

Tracks: (52 Min+)
1) One for Helen
2) A Sleepin' Be
3) Mother of Earl
4) Nardis
5) I loves You, Porgy
6) The Touch of Your Lips
7) Embraceable You
8) Someday My Prince Will Come
9) Walkin' Up

Was this review helpful to you?  yes | no

Review by Claude May 26, 2008 (6 of 7 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:
This is the 1968 Bill Evans trio (Eddie Gomez, bass, Jack DeJohnette, drums) in top form, IMHO his best recording from the late 60's. There is great interplay between Evans as Eddie Gomez, almost like with Scott LaFaro in the early 60's.

The recording was made by Swiss radio technicians and sounds good, but not exceptional. Not nearly as good as on the Village Vanguard concerts. The treble extension is limited, the instruments are miked too closely and the balance is a bit rough. I give it 3.5 stars based on the recording quality.

The mastering quality is much better than on the Verve Master Edition CD (the current CD reissue available in the US and Europe), because on the CD the mastering engineer tried to compensate the limited treble extension by boosting the upper treble in a very extreme way, making the CD sound pinched and tinny, especially on the cymbals. The SACD sounds flat and therefore much more natural. 5 stars for the mastering.

Unfortunately, the SACD includes the LP content only and is missing the bonus track from the VME CD, the solo "Quiet now".

These Universal Japan SACDs seem to have become hard to find, so grab them as soon as possible.

Was this review helpful to you?  yes | no

Review by Bill Mac September 28, 2012 (0 of 1 found this review helpful)
Performance:   
I would have to agree with JW's review as this is one fine sounding live SACD. I feel it is an excellent performance from Bill Evans, Eddie Gomez and Jack deJohnette.

Was this review helpful to you?  yes | no