Bill Evans: Some Other Time (The Lost Session From The Black Forest)—45 RPM 2xHD Vinyl
Bill Evans is living a large recorded life after his death. Evans died in 1980 and left a legacy of the finest jazz piano albums available before the public. He was also a dab hand at choosing the best sidemen to complete his trio. No doubt, the list of his bassists and drummers, including Scot La Faro, Marty Morrell, Steve Swallow, Chick Israels, Paul Motian and others make up superstars of the jazz world, soloists in their own right.
Since his death, and in cooperation with the Bill Evans Estate, companies such as Elemental Music are releasing vinyl recordings of the highest quality remastered and recut from recently discovered tapes. Bill Evans/Behind The Dikes: The First Official And Complete Release Of The 1969 Netherlands Recordings and the mono set, Bill Evans: Treasures: Solo, Trio and Orchestra Recordings from Denmark (1965-1969) are masterful with Evans and his trio at the height of their powers. No matter the setting, year, stereo or mono, these records give you Evans in all his glory. So his touch, phrasing and musical genius are not diminished.
This new set from 2xHD Vinyl is even better. So good in fact, that I immediately added it to the Audiophilia Dream List ©. I’ve played the two record, 45 RPM set many times since then; so brilliant musically and sonically, it never outstays its welcome.
2xHD’s analog vinyl mantra.
The set is made up of “lost tapes” from sessions Evans’ trio did at the MPS studios in Villingen, Germany, while they were appearing in Europe at the 1968 Montreux International Jazz Festival—Verve released the Montreux live show recording and it won a Grammy Award, while these “Black Forest” tapes were in MPS owner Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer’s vault ever since. (MPS is the home of the amazing The Singers Unlimited back catalogue.)
Evans’ trio at the time included Eddie Gomez on bass and Jack DeJohnette on drums. As always, the Evans trio kills no matter his choice of sidemen.
The 2xHD recording is fabulous—detailed, balanced with a rich analog sound promised by 2xHD on their covers. I read something about DSD files in the detailed 2xHD booklet which conflicts with everything 2xHD is about—turns out the DSD files were used on the original Resonance Records reissue of this material in 2016. The $24 DSD LP is a different animal than the $80 pure analog 2xHD Vinyl set.
The 2xHD Vinyl records have a beautiful, warm soundstage (the record company owner’s living room) with a blended setting; and no RVG left-right split. Drummer DeJohnette bought a different perspective to the trio compared to Morell and Motion—super fast, delicate cymbal work and fleetness unique to his style. He’s a little far back in the mix, but it’s great to hear Evans with yet another wonderful drummer. Bassist Gomez is famous for his technique and sound and his brilliant inventiveness, almost paralleling the late, great Scot LaFaro.
L to R Eddie Gomez. Jack DeJohnette and Bill Evans (1968).
No matter which of the 9 charts (there is a Vol. 2), ballad or swing, Evans and the guys take you on a sublime musical journey. So tracks as different as the uptempo “You’re Gonna Gear From Me”, with perfect chord progressions and technical breaks to the introspective “What Kind Of Fool Am I?” to his brilliant way with jazz waltzes “Baubles, Bangles, & Beads”, everything sounds vintage Evans. And in fabulous sound.
To hear the filigree drum work or Gomez's solo virtuosity and invention, play just about any track. Evans was not selfish in his soloing. Magnificent playing, beautifully recorded.
For the first time, this album was mastered in all analog (AAA), from the original analog master and mastered by 2xHD Vinyl’s René Laflamme at his mastering lab (photo below) and cut by Bernie Grundman at 45 RPM.
I received the latest 2xHD Vinyl AAA release, Jazz At The Pawnshop (yes that Pawnshop), and it’s every bit as good as this Evans set. Seems René Laflamme is making his way to the top of the pile of mastering engineers.
Get this Bill Evans set now in the spirit of “buy now or cry later”. Bill Evans: Some Other Time is both a historical gem and an audiophile treasure. Very highly recommended.
Further information: 2xHD Vinyl
From the 2xHD Vinyl website:
The 2xHD Fusion Mastering System is an innovation in audio restoration for virtual audio reality. In the constant evolution of its proprietary mastering process, 2xHD has progressed to a new phase called 2xHD Fusion, integrating the finest state-of-the-art analog Nagra-T tape recorder modified with high-end tube playback technology, wired with OCC silver cable for better transparency and 3D imaging. 2xHD Vinyl LPs are sourced from first-generation analog recordings without any digital corruption. The cutting is done at Bernie Grundman Mastering Lab on tube cutting equipment.
