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Double Bass Who's your favorite Bill Evans bassist?

#2
favorite is tough to say, mine changes daily... the records that I return to often are:
1. Trio '64 w/Gary Peacock (this is one of my favorite, if not THE favorite, bass sounds of all time)
2. All the Lafaro records but especially the two live ones at the VV
3. You Must Believe in Spring w/Gomez (who plays beautiful solos on this one, especially "Sometime Ago")
4. How My Heart Sings w/Israels (great tunes, great playing, great record!)

many more I could list (thinking about Eddie Gomez circa 67~70, love his gut sound). One thing is for certain, I think Bill Evans had great taste in bass players.
 
#4
So tough to say, basically all of my favourite bassists, minus Charlie Haden and Dave Holland played with Bill at some point. meandering picked out some of the best ones, and though I'd be quick to say LAFARO, I also have a particular "affinity"(pun definitely intended) for Marc Johnson's playing. Some might not know it but at young NHOP played with Bill briefly, and though there were unfortunately no albums, you can find some videos on youtube. Hearing NHOP play at basically my (young) age reminds me of how god awful I really am.
 
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#8
I enjoy all three, but LaFaro, like Ray Brown, almost always makes me marvel, literally awestruck. Add Gary Peacock and Dave Holland to that list of great players.

Off the question, but I heard a recording of Ray Brown playing Frankie and Johnny today on the radio - tone for days, time to set your watch by, and the right note at the right time, every time - IMO. And we're really lucky that Lynn Seaton, John Clayton, and Christophe Luty and others have carried Ray's mantle.

Some of LaFaro's recordings, especially his really high arco solos leave me wincing, but his bass lines - a true innovator and musical genius.

For Ray, there's one recording in which I heard him play a note or two out of tune but I can't say that for LaFaro and I think that's significant, a real indicator of genius talent.
 
#9
Once upon a time I would have said Scott Lafaro without hesitation. I still love his playing but I recently read the Bill Evans bio "How My Heart Sings" and it spurred a LOT of renewed listening to the many phases of Bill's career.

The contributions of Chuck Israels resonated deeply with me. My already deep love and respect for this incarnation of the trio has grown to the point that makes it difficult, if not impossible to pick a "favorite".

So much great music!

It is most unfortunate that there are no recordings of Michael Moore playing with Bill...

Joe
 
#10
DC Bass said:
The contributions of Chuck Israels resonated deeply with me. My already deep love and respect for this incarnation of the trio has grown to the point that makes it difficult, if not impossible to pick a "favorite".
Click to expand...

I agree, I think Chuck Israels (from what relatively little I've listened of him with Bill) added something special to the mix. Not as flashy as LaFaro or Gomez but just a great feel. Not to take away anything from the others though. I've listened probably the most to the Bill/ Eddie incarnations of the trio and I have to say I really can dig Eddie's high-flying lines and great time/ feel re-decorating in every piece.
 
#13
There is a recording of Michael Moore with Bill Evans, 'Getting Sentimental', on Milestone. It's not a great recording, sound quality wise but also musically - there were some well-documented issues in that group, and Philly Joe Jones and Evans were both tending to rush everything. Still well worth hearing though, and MM plays some gorgeous stuff
 
#14
Thanks for the heads up on the boots guys, I was not aware of them...

But maybe I should have qualified my statement by saying "sanctioned recording". The bio was very clear that Bill was VERY concerned about the quality of his music. It is said that he changed his mind on a few occasions and allowed the release of material he had once determined to be unacceptable- but these were studio recordings- and few and far between.

Listening to recordings of Bill that he would not have approved of does give us a glimpse behind the curtain but I'm not sure how I feel about it.

Joe
 
#20
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