Bill Evans Trio – Sunday At The Village Vanguard (180g True Mono LP)

Label: The Electric Recording Company – ERC04OM 

 AAA 100%  Analogue – 150 Copies  Limited Edition – Mastered from the First Generation Analogue Master Tapes

True Mono Valve  Cutting Lathe  – Handmade Artisan Reprint

Iconic ” Holy Grail ” Recordings

There can be few jazz albums more coveted by music lovers and audiophiles alike than Bill Evans Featuring Scott La Faro “Sunday At The Village Vanguard”. Recorded on June 21st 1961 with drummer Paul Motian, just ten days before bassist Scott La Faros’s tragic death in a car accident, this fine trio session truly represents the summit of the genre. La Faro’s innovative playing was ahead of its time — high notes and speedy runs interplaying with Evans; a style that was to be highly influential on jazz bassists for many years to come. The conventional practice of Evans as band leader evolved with La Faro now sharing centre stage with Evans. The synergy between the players in the trio is fast, fluid, and somewhat breathtaking at times, although with the audible clinking of glasses and background chat, there can be no doubt the atmosphere at the venue can only be described as laid back and relaxed.

It is the first of two Riverside albums derived from the legendary final appearance of the first Bill Evans trio-taped during the last day of Village Vanguard engagement, barely ten days before the tragic death of bassist Scott LaFargo. The recordings have long been recognized as capturing the essence of the unique three-way interaction that characterized the trio. This album is further distinguished by its emphasis on the solo work and compositions of the innovative LaFaro.

Live at the Village Vanguard, New York, June 25, 1961.

The original release was produced in mono only (at this point the majority of studio monitoring was still undertaken in mono as stereo had not quite taken off). It was originally my intention to release this recording just as an ERC mono only edition. However upon further listening I felt both mono and stereo held their own individual merits and being such a seminal album it would be nice (but extravagant) to enjoy a copy of each format!  – Pete Hutchison