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Scott LaFaro Discography: 1980--1989

This is the second of four (2 of 4) sections devoted to re-issued recordings.

Table of Contents

 1981  Booker Little  Booker Little [LP Bainbridge]
 1982  Explorations  Bill Evans [LP Fantasy]
 1984  More From The Vanguard  Bill Evans [LP]
 1984  Complete Riverside Recordings  Bill Evans [18-LP set]
 1986  The Arrival of Victor Feldman  Victor Feldman [LP]
 1986  At The Village Vanguard  Bill Evans [CD]
 1987  Portrait in Jazz  Bill Evans [CD]
 1987  Explorations  Bill Evans [CD]
 1987  Sunday at the Village Vanguard  Bill Evans [CD]
 1987  Waltz for Debby  Bill Evans [CD]
 1987  Complete Riverside Recordings  Bill Evans [12-CD set]
 1988  Art of the Improvisers  Ornette Coleman [CD]
     
 1989  Best of the Jazz Pianos  Evans, Powell, Monk, et al. [CD}

 

 

Booker Little. Van Nuys, CA: Bainbridge Entertainment Co., Inc., 1981. BT 1041. Re-release of Time #2011. (The Time Series, Bainbridge) 1 sound disc : analog, 33 1/3 rpm, mono ; 12 in.

Performers:

Program:

Side 1

Side 2

Note: All selections composed by Little, except `Who Can I Turn To' which is by Alec Wilder.

Note: OCLC #13 137 150 CSO 19860211

#17 209 809 BEX 19871209 (1981 BTC 1041 Cas)

Program excerpts (from the original Time release):

“Also worth attention is the brilliant bass work of Scott LaFaro. The 24-year-old bassist has worked with Chet Baker, Ira Sullivan, The Lighthouse All-Stars, Barney Kessel, and more recently, with Thelonious Monk and Bill Evans. A strikingly original soloist, Scott, according to Booker, `is technically, I feel, about the greatest bassist we have and he's still developing. In addition, he does so much more than just accompany.”

“As I mentioned, some of this material is difficult harmonically, but he had no problems. I just gave him the chords. While any competent bass player can play the roots, Scotty interprets. He's much more of a conversationalist behind you than any other bassist I know.'”

“In `Bee Tee's Minor Plea,' . . . LaFaro takes a stunningly original solo. `Usually,' says Booker, `the bass is a crude and rude instrument, but Scott makes it into something else.' [and in] `Life's A Little Blue,' . . . Scott's soliloquy is, like all his work, intense and powerful.”

Note: Original Time vinyl release has control number “S/2011”, recorded April 13, 15, 1960. Irving Joseph, producer. Cover photo of Little by Don Schlitton. Program notes “edited from Nat Hentoff's original liner notes.”

Note Compact Disc release, BCD1041, Van Nuys CA: Bainbridge Entertainment Co., Inc., 1980 [no date given for CD release]

TOC

Explorations [LP] Bill Evans Trio.  Berkeley, CA:  Riverside Records, Distribute by Fantasy, Inc., 1982.  OJC-037 (RLP-9351) (Original Jazz Classics)  1 sound disc : analog, 33 1/3 rpm, stereo ; 12 in. Recorded February 2, 1961, New York NY.   Program notes by Orrin Keepnews. Produced by Orrin Keepnews. Recording Engineer, Bill Stoddard.   Cover designed by Ken Deardoff.  Back liner photograph by Steve Schapiro. Cover photo by Mike Custa.

Performers:

Program:

Side 1

Side 2

Excerpts from program notes:

“And on the club-going level, the Evans trio heard on this album played highly crowd-pulling engagements from New York to San Francisco early in 1960, was sidelined later in the year by a siege of illness that took Bill off the scene for a few months, and then began [1961] with a successful tour of the Midwest.”

“Taking advantage of the closely-integrated support of his colleagues -- Paul Motian and the strikingly imaginative Scott LaFaro -- Bill indulges, in two instances, in one of his favorite challenges to himself: using tunes that have become almost hopelessly hackneyed through over-frequent playing ('How Deep Is The Ocean?'; 'Sweet and Lovely') and extracting remarkable and unsuspected freshness from them.”

[On 'Nardis'] “This last tune was written for Cannonball Adderley's first Riverside album [Portrait of Cannonball]. Bill played it then and has remained intrigued by it. As performed here, it also features an unusual LaFaro bass solo.”

NOTE:  This is a re-issue of the original Explorations LP recording with original program notes. The only differences between the 1959 and 1982 version are that "Mastered by Jack Matthews" (on the 1959 edition) has been omitted from the liner notes of 1982 version. 

TOC

More From The Vanguard. Bill Evans. Previously Unissued Performances By The Legendary 1961 Trio Featuring Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian. Berkeley, CA; Milestone Records, Distributed by Fantasy Records, 1984. Milestone M-9125. 1 sound disc : analog, 33 1/3 rpm, stereo ; 12 in. Original sessions and this album produced by Orrin Keepnews. Original recording engineer, David Jones. Re-recording by Danny Kopelson; mastered by George Horn, 1984. Program notes by Orrin Keepnews.

Performers:

Program:

Side 1

Side 2

“This album completes the story of what turned out to be one of the most remarkable and rewarding days in the history of modern jazz recording.” (Keepnews)

Note: OCLC #11 434 610 DLC 19841129

#31 784 419 PUL 19941206 (1984 SM 9125 Cas)

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NO PHOTO 

The Complete Riverside Recordings [LP] / Bill Evans 1984.

Boxed 18 LP-set. Need to expand.

DO NOT HAVE    

TOC 

The Arrival of Victor Feldman [LP]  Berkeley CA: Contemporary, distributed by Fantasy Records, 1986. OJC-268 (C-3549). 1 sound disc : 33 1/3 rpm, stereo? ; 12 in. (Original Jazz Classics [series] “Recorded January 21 & 22, 1958, at Contemporary's studio in Los Angeles. Sound by Roy DuNann and Howard Holzer. Produced by Lester Koenig.” Program notes by Nat Hentoff, dated March 30, 1958. Album cover photograph by Stan Levey.

Note: This is a re-released LP. Bar code: 2521-80268-1.

Performers:

Program:

Side 1

Side 2

Note: OCLC #27 905 431 VMC 19930413

Note: See 1958 entry for excerpts from program notes.

TOC

At The Village Vanguard. The Bill Evans Trio. [Compact Disc] Berkeley, CA: Riverside Records, 1986. Re-release of selections recorded June 25, 1961. Compiled by Ed Michel. Program notes by Orrin Keepnews. Time 64:59. Riverside Compact Disc, Digital Audio, FCD-60-017, DIDX 000668. Original recording engineer, David Jones. Digitally remastered from original analog master tapes by Ed Michel, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA.

Performers:

Program:

“Recorded in performance at the Village Vanguard, New York City; first three selections in the afternoon, the remaining seven in the evening of June 25, 1961.

Selections #1-4 and 10 originally released on Sunday at the Village Vanguard (Riverside 376 mono; 9376 stereo; OJC-140).

Selections #1, 2, 8, and 9 originally released on Waltz for Debby (Riverside 399 mono; 9399 stereo; OJC-210).

All selections, including `Porgy.' are also available on Milestone twofer The Village Vanguard Sessions (M-47002) and in the boxed set, [Bill Evans:] The Complete Riverside Recordings (R-018).”

Original Sunday selections: side 1 -- Gloria's Step, My Man's Gone Now, Solar; side 2 -- Alice in Wonderland, All of You, Jade Visions.

Original Debby selections: side 1 -- My Foolish Heart, Waltz for Debby, Detour Ahead; side 2 -- My Romance, Some Other Time, Milestones.

TOC

Portrait in Jazz  Bill Evans Trio. [Compact Disc] 1987 Re-release. Riverside Compact Disc, Digital Audio, OJCCD-088-2 (RLP-1162) DIDX 010273. Digital remastering 1987 by David Luke, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley CA. Produced by Orrin Keepnews. (Original Jazz Classics [series]) Originally recorded in New York, NY, December 28, 1959. Liner notes by Orrin Keepnews reproduced from the original album cover. Total time 52:00 with 11 tracks.

Performers:

Program:

Program Excerpt: “This album was recorded when stereo was still in its infancy. After the session, we discovered that the preferred version of `Autumn Leaves' had not been properly taped in stereo. My decision at the time was to use the choice take on the monaural album and a close second-best on the stereo (although no indication of this appears on the original liners). Both are included here, as they were on the Milestone `twofer' Spring Leaves (M-47034). Take 2 of `Blue in Green' was originally almost approved by artist and producer; I'm still not sure why Evans finally picked Take 3 to be issued. Everything here is in the boxed set, Bill Evans: The Complete Riverside Recordings (R-018), but this Compact Disc release combines both versions of `Autumn Leaves” plus both `Blue in Green' takes for the first time.”

TOC

Explorations  Bill Evans Trio. [Compact Disc] 1987 Re-release. Riverside Compact Disc Digital Audio, OJCCD-037 (RLP 9351) DIDX 010768. Digital remastering 1987 by David Luke, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley CA. Produced by Orrin Keepnews. (Original Jazz Classics [series]) Originally recorded: New York, NY, February 2, 1961. Liner notes by Orrin Keepnews reproduced from the original album cover. Total time 51:00 with 10 tracks.

Performers:

Program:

Program note excerpts: “Although the originally-issued version of `Beautiful Love' is designated as Take 2, and the alternate that follows it here is Take 1, this is not the usual case of a second attempt that immediately followed the first. On the contrary, it is a prime example of Evans's impatience and perfectionism. Early in this date, he played this number once; we both approved; and he moved on to something else. Much later (after having worked on seven other selections), he decided to try a second `Beautiful Love,' which he later preferred. `The Boy Next Door' was the tune that the pianist set aside as most expendable when we found we had more material than would comfortably fit on the album. It was later included on the Milestone `twofer' Spring Leaves (M-47034), and both of these bonus selections are in the boxed set Bill Evans: The Complete Riverside Recordings (R-018), but this Compact Disc marks their first inclusion with the original album.”

TOC

Sunday at the Village Vanguard. Bill Evans Trio. Featuring Scott LaFaro. [Compact Disc] 1987 Re-release. Riverside Compact Disc Digital Audio, OJCCD-140-2 (RLP 9376) DIDX 010264. Digital remastering 1987 by Joe Tarantino, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley CA. Produced by Orrin Keepnews. (Original Jazz Classics [series]) Originally recorded: New York, NY, June 25, 1961. Liner notes reproduced from the original album cover. Time 69:00.

Performers:

Program:

Note: The four alternates have appeared on the Milestone album More From the Vanguard (M-9125) and on the boxed set, Bill Evans: The Complete Riverside Recordings (R-018), but this is the first time they have been issued as part of the original album.

TOC

Waltz for Debby. Bill Evans Trio. With Scott LaFaro, Paul Motian. [Compact Disc] 1987 Re-release. Riverside Compact Disc Digital Audio, OJCCD-210-2 (RLP 9399) DIDX 010234. [?Digital] remastering 1987 by Joe Tarantino, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley CA. Produced by Orrin Keepnews. (Original Jazz Classics [series]) Originally recorded: New York, NY, June 25, 1961. Liner notes reproduced from the original album cover.

Performers:

Program:

“For this Compact Disc release, alternate versions of three of the six selections have been inserted just after the ones originally chosen for issuance -- demonstrating how uniformly high the overall creative level was on this legendary final day of the trio. [The three not duplicated here . . . were played only once that day.] Also included is `Porgy,' originally omitted for lack of space, but added to the Milestone reissue `twofer' The Village Vanguard Sessions (M-7002). The three alternates have appeared on More From the Vanguard (M-9125) and all are on the boxed set, Bill Evans: The Complete Riverside Recordings (R-018), but this is the first time this additional material has been issued as part of the original album.”

 

TOC

NO PHOTO

The Complete Riverside Recordings [CD] / Bill Evans 1987.

12-CD boxed set. New release of the 18-LP boxed set.

DO NOT HAVE

 TOC 

The Art of the Improvisers. Ornette Coleman. [Compact Disc] New York: Atlantic Recording Corporation, 1988. Atlantic 90978-2. 1 sound disc : analog to digital ; 4 and 3/4 in. Program notes by Martin Williams. Produced by Nesuhi Ertegun; compiler and re-mix editor, Ilhan Mimaroglu; re-mix engineer, Geoffrey Haslam; cover painting, Ornette Coleman; cover design, Haig Adishan.

Note: Scott LaFaro plays on the selection, “The Alchemy of Scott LaFaro” (8:48) [side 1; track 4], composed by Ornette Coleman, recorded January 31, 1961, during the recording session that resulted in the recording Ornette!.

Performers:

Note: OCLC #19 524 356 CXP 19890410 (1988 90978-2 CD)

TOC

ADDENDUM

 

The Best of the Jazz Pianos. [Compact Disc] [Selections] Bill Evans, Bud Powell, Teddy Wilson, Thelonious Monk, Chick Corea. (The Sonny Lester Collection) Melville, NY: LRC, Ltd., 1989. CDC-8519. 1 sound disc : digital ; 4 and 3/4 in. Digital Master by Denon. 8 tracks, duration 59:53.

Program

Performers

“Bill Evans (p)/Scott LaFaro (b)/Paul Motian (ds) 1961”.

NOTE:  Mr. Dieter Speck, who first made me aware of this recording, believes that LaFaro is the bassist.  I think, however, that a close listening will reveal that the bassist is Eddie Gomez and the drummer Marty Morrell. These two tracks most likely were recorded at the time of the Bill Evans album entitled, Since We Met, which was recorded 'live' at the Village Vanguard, New York, NY, in 1974.

TOC

 

 

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 Bibliography -- Mags L-R  Chronology -- 1960  Discography -- 1961--1979  
 Bibliography -- Mags S-Z  Chronology -- 1961  Discography -- 1980--1989  Sunday Vanguard Matrix
 Bibliography -- Miscellany  Discography -- 1990--1999
 Bibliography -- Web Sources    Discography -- 2000--  2001 ISB LaFaro Tribute

 

Copyright 1998-2003, Charles A. Ralston. All rights reserved.
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Last revised:  2005-09-30
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