Bill Evans - California Here I Come

2004 CD reissue.

    1 California, Here I Come
    2 Polka Dots and Moonbeams
    3 Turn Out the Stars
    4 Stella By Starlight
    5 You're Gonna Hear from Me
    6 In a Sentimental Mood
    7 G Waltz
    8 On Green Dolphin Street
    9 Gone with the Wind
    10 If You Could See Me Now
    11 Alfie
    12 Very Early
    13 'Round Midnight
    14 Emily
    15 Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams (And Dream Your Troubles Away)

Philly Joe Jones was a member of the Bill Evans Trio for a short time in 1967 but none of his recordings with the pianist were released at the time. This two-album set from 1982 features the pair (along with bassist Eddie Gomez who had recently started his own longtime association with Evans) in superb form. Jones consistently lit a fire under the pianist and, even though Bill Evans was never just an introspective ballad pianist (which became his stereotype), he does play with some unaccustomed ferocity on several of these selections.

The 71 minutes of music feature strong versions of three of Evans' originals (including "Turn Out the Stars") plus a dozen standards, highlighted by "You're Gonna Hear From Me," "Gone With the Wind" and the unlikely "California Here I Come." Well worth searching for. In September 2004, Verve reissued the album in a limited edition, 24-bit remastered CD. Where the original disc sounded thin in places -- as it is a live recording -- the remastered version sounds consistently full and warm throughout.

Scott Yanow ~ AllMusicGuide