Vinil & CD review: Bill Evans – Treasures: Solo, Trio & Orchestra Recordings From Denmark 1965-1969 – 2023: Video, CD cover

Treasures: Solo, Trio and Orchestra Recordings from Denmark (1965-1969) is a set of never-before-released recordings of jazz piano icon Bill Evans, taped with excellent sound quality either live or in Danish TV and Radio studios in the mid-to-late 1960s.

An official Elemental Music release in collaboration with the Bill Evans Estate, Treasures is truly a ’holy grail’ discovery culled from the private collection of Danish jazz musician Ole Matthiessen and being released for the very first time as a limited-edition 180-gram 3-LP set. Highlights of the collection include trio performances from 1965 featuring legendary Danish jazz bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen; the only solo piano version of “My Funny Valentine” by Evans known to exist; a 1966 orchestral suite performed with the Evans trio accompanied by the Danish Radio Big Band conducted by trumpeter/arranger Palle Mikkelborg; and much more!

The beautifully designed triple gatefold LP set showcases previously unpublished photos by Jan Persson from Evans’ Danish tours, as well as insightful liner notes by acclaimed author, journalist and Evans scholar, Marc Myers, plus interviews and statements from Danish drummer Alex Riel, music journalist, Danish producer and Evans discographer Peter Larsen, Palle Mikkelborg, Evans’ longtime trio mates – bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Marty Morell, and pianists Ran Blake and Matthew Shipp.

Tracklist 

LP1: BILL EVANS TRIO with NHØP – DENMARK

SIDE A:

1. COME RAIN OR COME SHINE
2. SOMEDAY MY PRINCE WILL COME
3. BEAUTIFUL LOVE
4. WALTZ FOR DEBBY

SIDE B:

1. I SHOULD CARE
2. VERY EARLY
3. TIME REMEMBERED
4. WHO CAN I TURN TO?

LP2: BILL EVANS SOLO & ORCHESTRA

SIDE A: Solo

1. RE: PERSON I KNEW
2. ’ROUND MIDNIGHT
3. MY FUNNY VALENTINE
4. TIME REMEMBERED
5. COME RAIN OR COME SHINE
6. EPILOGUE

SIDE B: Orchestral Suite

1. INTRO into WALTZ FOR DEBBY
2. TIME REMEMBERED
3. MY BELLS
4. TREASURES
5. WALTZ FOR DEBBY [reprise]
6. WALKIN’ UP

LP3: BILL EVANS TRIO DENMARK 1966/69

SIDE A:

1. ELSA
2. STELLA BY STARLIGHT
3. DETOUR AHEAD
4. IN A SENTIMENTAL MOOD
5. TIME REMEMBERED
6. NARDIS

SIDE B:

1. AUTUMN LEAVES
2. EMILY
3. QUIET NOW
4. NARDIS”

Personnel

Bill Evans (piano) with collective personnel:
Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen, Eddie Gomez (bass)
Alan Dawson, Alex Riel, Marty Morell (drums)
The Royal Symphony Orchestra & the Danish Radio Big Band.

Copenhagen Jazz Festival, October 31, 1965
A1 Bill Evans, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Alan Dawson– Come Rain Or Come Shine (4:35)
A2 Bill Evans, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Alan Dawson– Someday My Prince Will Come (4:31)
A3 Bill Evans, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Alan Dawson– Beautiful Love (4:18)
Slotsmarksskolen, Holbæk, November 28, 1965
A4 Bill Evans, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Alex Riel– Waltz For Debby (5:58)
B1 Bill Evans, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Alex Riel– I Should Care (4:08)
B2 Bill Evans, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Alex Riel– Very Early (4:39)
B3 Bill Evans, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Alex Riel– Time Remembered (4:53)
B4 Bill Evans, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Alex Riel– Who Can I Turn To (5:59)
Solo
C1 Bill Evans– Re: Person I Knew (3:21)
C2 Bill Evans– ‘Round Midnight (4:38)
C3 Bill Evans– My Funny Valentine (4:00)
C4 Bill Evans– Time Remembered (3:19)
C5 Bill Evans– Come Rain Or Come Shine (3:16)
C6 Bill Evans– Epilogue (0:34)
Orchestral Suite
D1 Bill Evans, The Royal Danish Symphony Orchestra, Danish Radio Big Band– Intro / Waltz For Debby (5:13)
D1.1 Bill Evans, The Royal Danish Symphony Orchestra, Danish Radio Big Band– Intro
D1.2 Bill Evans, The Royal Danish Symphony Orchestra, Danish Radio Big Band– Waltz For Debby
D2 Bill Evans, The Royal Danish Symphony Orchestra, Danish Radio Big Band– Time Remembered (3:53)
D3 Bill Evans, The Royal Danish Symphony Orchestra, Danish Radio Big Band– My Bells (4:45)
D4 Bill Evans, The Royal Danish Symphony Orchestra, Danish Radio Big Band– Treasures (5:24)
D5 Bill Evans, The Royal Danish Symphony Orchestra, Danish Radio Big Band– Waltz For Debby (Reprise) (4:19)
D6 Bill Evans, The Royal Danish Symphony Orchestra, Danish Radio Big Band– Walkin’ Up (4:17)
Trio
E1 Bill Evans, Eddie Gomez, Alex Riel– Elsa (5:52)
E2 Bill Evans, Eddie Gomez, Alex Riel– Stella By Starlight (4:19)
E3 Bill Evans, Eddie Gomez, Alex Riel– Detour Ahead (5:40)
E4 Bill Evans, Eddie Gomez, Alex Riel– In A Sentimental Mood (4:43)
E5 Bill Evans, Eddie Gomez, Alex Riel– Time Remembered (3:31)
E6 Bill Evans, Eddie Gomez, Alex Riel– Nardis (3:35)
F1 Bill Evans, Eddie Gomez, Marty Morell– Autumn Leaves (6:44)
F2 Bill Evans, Eddie Gomez, Marty Morell– Emily (5:44)
F3 Bill Evans, Eddie Gomez, Marty Morell– Quiet Now (3:42)
F4 Bill Evans, Eddie Gomez, Marty Morell– Nardis (8:06)

Tracks 1-1 to 1-3 recorded at the Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Tivolis Koncertsal, Copenhagen, October 31, 1965.
Tracks 1-4 to 1-8 recorded at Slotsmarksskolen, Holbæk, November 28, 1965.
Tracks 2-1 to 2-6 recorded by Danmarks Radio, The Radiohouse, Copenhagen, late November 1965.
Tracks 2-7 to 2-12 recorded by Danmarks Radio, Copenhagen, late October 1966.
Tracks 2-13 to 2-16 recorded at Stakladen, Aarhus, Denmark, November 21, 1969

Arranged By [Arranger], Conductor, Trumpet – Palle Mikkelborg (tracks: 1-9 to 1-14)
Band – Danish Radio Big Band (tracks: 1-9 to 1-14)
Bass – Eddie Gomez (tracks: 1-9 to 1-14, 2-7 to 2-16), Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (tracks: 1-1 to 1-3, 1-9 to 1-14)
Drums – Alan Dawson (tracks: 1-1 to 1-3), Alex Riel (tracks: 2-7 to 2-12), Marty Morell (tracks: 1-9 to 1-13, 2-13 to 2-16)
Drums, Interviewee – Marty Morell
Orchestra – The Royal Danish Symphony Orchestra (tracks: 2-9 to 2-14)
Piano – Bill Evans
Reeds – Jesper Thilo (tracks: 1-9 to 1-14), Sahib Shihab (tracks: 1-9 to 1-14), Torolf Mølgaard (tracks: 1-9 to 1-14)
Trumpet – Allan Botschinsky (tracks: 1-9 to 1-14), Idrees Sulieman (tracks: 1-9 to 1-14)