Bill Evans - The Complete Bill Evans On Verve (1997) [Polygram]

While its sheer bulk negates its interest to a general audience, The Complete Bill Evans on Verve is an essential library piece for any serious jazz fan or historian. Spanning 18 CDs, 269 tracks and 21 hours, the box set includes all of Evans' recordings for the label between 1962 and 1969, including 19 albums, two previously unreleased albums and 98 previously unreleased tracks. During these years, the pianist made some of his greatest music, including his legendary Village Vanguard sessions, and the set charts all of his changes, as he plays with his trio and as a solo artist, as well as a rare session with a rhythm quartet and strings. While the set itself could be a little more user-friendly – it's encased in a steel box, with a 160-page booklet and an 18-disc fanpack on separate shelves – the music itself is nearly flawless and nearly essential for most serious jazz fans.

Personnel:
Bill Evans (piano)
Mickey Leonard (arranger)
Monica Zetterlund (vocals)
Stan Getz (tenor saxophone)
Phil Woods (clarinet)
Jim Hall, Sam Brown (guitar)
Gary Peacock, Ron Carter, Chuck Israels, Eddie Gomez (bass)
Ed Shaughnessy, Paul Motian, Elvin Jones, Larry Bunker, Grady Tate, Shelly Manne, Philly Joe Jones, Jack DeJohnette, Marty Morell (drums).

Tracklist:
Disk 1
1. The Washington Twist
2. Danny Boy
3. Let's Go Back To The Waltz
4. With A Song In My Heart
5. Goodbye
6. Believe In You
7. Reflections In The Park
8. Night Images
9. Tree Patterns
10. Peachtree
11. Misplaced Cowpoke
12. A Moment Alone

Disk 2
1. 'Round Midnight
2. How About You?
3. Spartacus Love Theme
4. Blue Monk
5. Stella By Starlight
6. Hey, There
7. N.Y.C.'s No Lark
8. Just You, Just Me
9. Bemsha Swing
10. A Sleepin' Bee
11. For Heaven's Sake
12. A Sleepin' Bee
13. Always (Breakdown)
14. Always (Complete Take)
15. Always (Master Take)
16. Everything Happens To Me
17. Dancing In The Dark
18. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Disk 3
1. I'll See You Again (Breakdown)
2. I'll See You Again (Complete Take)
3. I'll See You Again (Master Take)
4. Little Lulu (Complete Take)
5. Little Lulu (Complete Take)
6. Little Lulu (Master Take)
7. My Heart Stood Still
8. My Heart Stood Still (Complete Take)
9. My Heart Stood Still (Rehearsal Fragments)
10. My Heart Stood Still (Complete Take)
11. My Heart Stood Still
12. My Heart Stood Still (Master Take)
13. Grandfather's Waltz (Breakdown)
14. Grandfather's Waltz (Master Take)
15. Grandfather's Waltz (False Start)
16. Grandfather's Waltz (Complete Take)
17. Melinda (Master Take)
18. Dark Eyes

Disk 4
1. Funkallero-Rehearsal Fragments
2. Funkallero (Master Take)
3. But Beautiful (Master Take)
4. Theme From 'The Carpetbaggers'
5. Theme From 'The Carpetbaggers' (Complete Take)
6. Theme From 'The Carpetbaggers' (Complete Take)
7. Theme From 'The Carpetbaggers' (Breakdown)
8. Theme From 'The Carpetbaggers' (Master)
9. Theme From 'The Carpetbaggers' (Complete Take)
10. Night And Day-Drum Warmup
11. Night And Day (Complete Take)
12. Night And Day (Master Take)
13. Wnew (Master Take)
14. How Deep Is The Ocean?
15. Love Is Here To Stay
16. Baubles, Bangles, And Beads
17. Vamp ('Peace Piece') And Spoken Introduction
18. Nardis
19. Time Remembered
20. Someday My Prince Will Come

Disk 5
1. What Is This Thing Called Love?
2. Stella By Starlight
3. 'Round Midnight
4. Make Someone Happy
5. Spoken Introduction And Warmup
6. The Boy Next Door
7. Little Lulu
8. My Love Is An April Song
9. What Kind Of Fool Am I?
10. What Is This Thing Called Love?
11. The Touch Of Your Lips
12. Spoken Introduction And Warmup
13. The Boy Next Door
14. Time Remembered
15. Stella By Starlight

Disk 6
1. 'Deed I Do
2. Baubles, Bangles, And Beads
3. What Kind Of Fool Am I?
4. Spoken Introduction And Warmup
5. Come Rain Or Come Shine
6. How My Heart Sings
7. Alone Together
8. Israel
9. Spoken Introduction And Warmup
10. Alone Together
11. Make Someone Happy
12. My Love Is An April Song
13. 'Deed I Do
14. Love Is Here To Stay
15. California, Here I Come
16. Warmup ('These Things Called Changes)
17. What Kind Of Fool Am I?

Disk 7
1. What Is This Thing Called Love?
2. Alone Together
3. California, Here I Come
4. Come Rain Or Come Shine (Master)
5. Jag Vet En Deglig Rosa (A Beautiful Rose)
6. Once Upon A Summertime
7. So Long, Big Time
8. Monicas Vals
9. Lucky To Be Me (Master Take)
10. Vindarna Sucka (Sorrow Wind)
11. It Could Happen To You (Master)
12. Some Other Time
13. Om Natten (In The Night)
14. Come Rain Or Come Shine (Complete Take)
15. Come Rain Or Come Shine (Complete Take)
16. Lucky To Be Me (Complete Take)
17. It Could Happen To You (Complete Take)
18. It Could Happen To You (Complete Take)
19. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Disk 8
1. Israel
2. Elsa
3. 'Round Midnight
4. Love Is Here To Stay
5. How My Heart Sings
6. Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)?
7. Come Rain Or Come Shine
8. If You Could See Me Now
9. Granados
10. Valse (Siciliano In G Minor)
11. Prelude (Prelude #15 In D-Flat Major)
12. Time Remembered
13. Pavane
14. Elegia
15. My Bells
16. Blue Interlude (C-Minor Prelude, Op. 28)

Disk 9
1. I Should Care
2. Spring Is Here
3. Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)?
4. Make Someone Happy
5. Solo-In Memory Of His Father
6. Beautiful Love
7. My Foolish Heart
8. One For Helen

Disk 10
1. I've Got You Under My Skin
2. My Man's Gone Now
3. Turn Out The Stars
4. Angel Face
5. Jazz Samba
6. All Across The City
7. A Simple Matter Of Conviction
8. Stella By Starlight
9. Orbit (Unless It's You)
10. Laura
11. My Melancholy Baby
12. I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over You
13. Star Eyes
14. Only Child
15. These Things Called Changes

Disk 11
1. Emily
2. Yesterdays
3. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
4. Funny Man
5. The Shadow Of Your Smile
6. Little Lulu
7. Quiet Now
8. Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe
9. In A Sentimental Mood
10. Re: Person I Knew
11. California, Here I Come
12. Alfie
13. Gone With The Wind
14. Turn Out The Stars
15. Polka Dots And Moonbeams
16. Stella By Starlight

Disk 12
1. Very Early
2. You're Gonna Hear From Me
3. Emily
4. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams
5. 'Round Midnight
6. On Green Dolphin Street
7. If You Could See Me Now
8. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
9. You're Gonna Hear From Me
10. G Waltz
11. California, Here I Come
12. Emily
13. Alfie
14. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams

Disk 13
1. In A Sentimental Mood
2. California, Here I Come
3. You're Gonna Hear From Me
4. Alfie
5. Gone With The Wind
6. Emily
7. G Waltz
8. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams
9. In A Sentimental Mood
10. California, Here I Come
11. You're Gonna Hear From Me
12. Alfie
13. Gone With The Wind
14. Emily
15. G Waltz

Disk 14
1. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams
2. On Green Dolphin Street
3. G Waltz
4. You're Gonna Hear From Me
5. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams
6. Gone With The Wind
7. Emily
8. G Waltz
9. Spoken Introduction
10. One For Helen
11. A Sleepin' Bee
12. Mother Of Earl
13. Nardis
14. Quiet Now

Disk 15
1. I Loves You, Porgy
2. The Touch Of Your Lips
3. Embraceable You
4. Someday My Prince Will Come
5. Walkin' Up
6. Here's That Rainy Day
7. A Time For Love (Master Take)
8. Midnight Mood
9. On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever)
10. Never Let Me Go
11. A Time For Love (Complete Take)
12. Midnight Mood-2 Fragments Medley

Disk 16
1. Straight, No Chaser
2. Lover Man
3. What's New?
4. Autumn Leaves
5. Time Out For Chris
6. 'Spartacus' Love Theme
7. So What
8. Whay Did I Choose You? (Complete Take)
9. Whay Did I Choose You? (Complete Take)
10. Whay Did I Choose You? (Complete Take)
11. Whay Did I Choose You? (Complete Take)
12. Whay Did I Choose You? (Complete Take)
13. Whay Did I Choose You? (Complete Take)
14. Whay Did I Choose You? (Complete Take)
15. Whay Did I Choose You? (Complete Take)

Disk 17
1. I'm All Smiles (Master Take)
2. Like Someone In Love (Master Take)
3. Children's Play Song (Master Take)
4. Soiree (Complete Take)
5. Soiree (Master Take)
6. Soiree (Complete Take)
7. Lullaby For Helene (Complete Take)
8. Lullaby For Helene (Complete Take)
9. Lullaby For Helene (Complete Take)
10. Lullaby For Helene (Master Take)
11. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life? (Complete Take)
12. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life? (Incomplete Take)
13. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life? (Complete Take)
14. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?
15. The Dolphin-Before (Complete Take)
16. The Dolphin-Before (Complete Take)
17. The Dolphin-Before (Complete Take)
18. The Dolphin-Before (Breakdown)
19. The Dolphin-Before (Complete Take)
20. The Dolphin-Before (Breakdown)
21. The Dolphin-Before (Complete Take)

Disk 18
1. The Dolphin-Before (Master Take)
2. The Dolphin-After
3. Comrade Conrad (Complete Take)
4. Comrade Conrad (Incomplete Take)
5. Comrade Conrad (Complete Take)
6. It Must Be Love (Complete Take)
7. It Must Be Love (Incomplete Take)
8. It Must Be Love (Complete Take)
9. Spoken Introduction
10. Dancing In The Dark
11. I Love You
12. 'S Wonderful

Total time: More than 21 hours.
22-bit remastering.
269 tracks.
98 previously unissued complete takes.
All 19 Bill Evans Verve LPs plus two bonus LP sessions (five LPs are on CD for the first time).