At Shelly's Manne-Hole (Live Remastered) The Bill Evans Trio

• 1 Isn't It Romantic? (Live At Shelly's Manne-Hole / May 14 & 19, 1963) 04:44
• 2 The Boy Next Door (Live At Shelly's Manne-Hole / May 14 & 19, 1963) 05:27
• 3 Wonder Why (Live At Shelly's Manne-Hole / May 14 & 19, 1963) 05:19
• 4 Swedish Pastry (Live At Shelly's Manne-Hole / May 14 & 19, 1963) 05:49
• 5 Our Love Is Here To Stay (Live At Shelly's Manne-Hole / May 14 & 19, 1963) 04:51
• 6 Round Midnight (Live At Shelly's Manne-Hole / May 14 & 19, 1963) 09:00
• 7 Stella By Starlight (Live At Shelly's Manne-Hole / May 14 & 19, 1963) 05:01
• 8 Blues In 'F' (Live At Shelly's Manne-Hole / May 14 & 19, 1963) 05:43
• Total Runtime 45:54

Info for At Shelly's Manne-Hole (Live Remastered)

The is the last album jazz piano giant Evans made for the Riverside label before going to Verve. Recorded live at the legendary Los Angeles jazz club Shelly’s Manne-Hole (one of the owners was the late jazz drum legend Shelly Manne) in May of 1963, it turned out to be one of only two times Evans was recorded “live” for Riverside (the other time resulted in the classic OJC albums recorded at the Village Vanguard). It was also the only time this particular Evans trio was recorded. As fate would have it, Evans was “between drummers” and he and bassist Chuck Israels were performing as a duo for part of their week’s run at the club.

At the urging of pianist/organist Clare Fisher, Evans and Israels invited jazz drummer/studio ace Larry Bunker to sit in–and the rest, as they say, is history. Though not quite as subtle as most other Evans drummers, Bunker fit in beautifully. They sound like a working band. The set is all standards, except for one Israels tune (“Blues in ‘F'”)–it’s rare that there are no Evans originals. “Stella By Starlight,” “‘Round Midnight,” “All the Things You Are” (the latter previously unreleased)–there seems to be a thread of melancholy running through the set. But it’s a melancholy that sacrifices none of the restrained and unique lyricism associated with the trios of one of the masters, Bill Evans.

"Although the Scott LaFaro-Paul Motian lineup of the Bill Evans Trio is generally considered to be the strongest, Chuck Israels and Larry Bunker make a strong case of their own on At Shelly's Manne-Hole, a 1964 release that finds the entire band in classic form. This particular trio may lack some of the sheer combustive force of the better-known lineup, but it is, if possible, even more sensitive, melancholic, and nostalgic than the previous band. The leadoff track, "Isn't It Romantic," is one of Evans' finest moments, with the gently swinging theme leading into a strong, if restrained, solo from Israels. Over Bunker's sensitive brush work, Evans comments briefly and beautifully on the theme before returning to the head. The band's readings of such classics as "'Round Midnight," "Stella By Starlight," and "All the Things You Are" are wonderful, but it is the lesser-known tracks, such as "Swedish Pastry" and the aforementioned "Isn't It Romantic," that makes this recording so valuable. Jazz is rarely as sensitive or as melodic as this. Another classic from Bill Evans and company." (Daniel Gioffre, AMG)

Bill Evans, piano
Chuck Israels, double bass
Larry Bunker, drums

Recorded May 14 & 19, 1963 at Shelly's Manne-Hole, Hollywood, California
Produced by Orrin Keepnews

Digitally remastered

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This album contains no booklet.