Shelly Manne, Bill Evans with Monty Budwig – Empathy (1962) [APO Remaster 2013] SACD ISO + FLAC 24bit/88,2kHz

Influential and innovative jazz pianist Bill Evans took time off from his regular trio to record Empathy with drummer Shelly Manne (who shares equal billing) and bassist Monty Budwig. Critics noted that the impromptu collaboration seemed to loosen Evans up, inspiring a lighter, freer and more relaxed performance on this album than on his previous recordings with his usual bandmates.

This album came about through a fortuitous convergence of circumstances. Shelly Manne & His Men were appearing at New York’s Village Vanguard, sharing the bill with the Bill Evans Trio. Getting Riverside’s permission to let the pianist participate, Creed Taylor set up a session at Rudy Van Gelder’s studio with Evans and Manne sharing top billing. Manne’s bass player, Monty Budwig, made up the trio. This was a busman’s holiday for Evans, who was freed from the musical parameters he had set for his then-current trio. The result is that his playing seemed lighter, freer, and more relaxed than it had for a while. The album kicks off with a jaunty version of Irving Berlin’s “The Washington Twist” from the unsuccessful Mr. President with Budwig sharing the honors with Evans as much as Manne. Manne spends most of his time driving Evans into more diminished and sharper playing than was usually Evans’ wont. Another relatively unfamiliar Berlin work, “Let’s Go Back to the Waltz,” gives full reign to Evans’ lyricism. The longest tune on the set is an audacious, almost lampooned version of “With a Song in My Heart” with light chordal phrasing that pretty much characterized much of the tone coming from this session. Listening to these three, it’s clear that everyone was having a good time and simply enjoying being relieved of their duties with their regular combos, even if for just one day.

Tracklist:

01. The Washington Twist
02. Danny Boy
03. Let’s Go Back To Te Waltz
04. With A Song In My Heart
05. Goodbye
06. I Believe In You

Personnel
Bill Evans – piano
Monty Budwig – bass
Shelly Manne – drums

Recorded on August 14, 1962 in New York City.
Mastered for this SACD by George Marino at Sterling Sound.

SACD ISO

mqs.link_ShellyManneBillEvanswithMntyBudwigEmpathy1962APRemaster2013SACDIS.part1.rar
mqs.link_ShellyManneBillEvanswithMntyBudwigEmpathy1962APRemaster2013SACDIS.part2.rar

FLAC 24bit/88,2kHz

mqs.link_ShellyManneBillEvanswithMntyBudwigEmpathy1962APRemaster2013FLAC2488.2.rar