Momentum (Bill Evans album)

Momentum
Live album by Bill Evans
Released	October 1, 2012
Recorded	February 4, 1972 Netherlands
Genre	Jazz
Length	1:32:42
Label	Limetree Records
Producer	Maria Rijnders Rob Rijneke

Momentum is a live album recorded in 1972 at Groningen, the Netherlands, by the American jazz pianist Bill Evans with a trio including Eddie Gómez on bass and Marty Morell on drums.^[1]

Background

This album was first professionally recorded at a concert with Bill Evans, Eddie Gomez, and Marty Morell in Groningen, Netherlands in 1972. But after almost forty years of preservation a second recording of, Momentum was released. The name of the album was chosen by Nanette Evans, his widow. She claimed, "At the time of this recording in 1972, Bill was experiencing a momentous upswing in his personal life, his health, and his career, she remembered: so I would like to give the album the appropriate title of Momentum."

Bill Evans is known for his quiet, reserved, repeated dominant 7th chords that create a scenic effect. Miles Davis describes it as follows: "Bill had this quiet fire that I loved on piano. The way he approached it, the sound he got was like crystal notes or sparkling water cascading down from some clear waterfall. I had to change the way the band sounded again for Bill's style by playing different tunes, softer ones at first." While a few of the songs still portray the crystal cascading characteristics that are usually attributed to Evans' songs, Lime Tree Records claims that this album consists of a more aggressive style of playing as heard in "Emily" and "My Romance."

This album utilizes many styles of music such as the waltz with a 3/4 rhythm, pizzicato bass, counterpoint and embellished scales. According to allmusic.com, this album truly displays all sides of Evans' emotions from sad ballads to upbeat songs.

Track listing - disc 1

Re: Person I Knew - 7:59
Elsa - 7:04
Turn Out the Stars - 5:13
Gloria's Step - 9:37
Emily - 7:47
Quiet Now - 5:38

Track Listing - disc 2

My Romance - 10:24
Sugar Plum - 11:33
The Two Lonely People - 8:12
Who Can I Turn - 7:49
What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life - 5:17
Nardis - 6:09

Instrumentalists

Leslie Bricusse: Composer
Miles Davis: Composer
Bill Evans: Composer, Piano, Primary Artist
Eddie Gomez: Bass, Primary Artist
Scott LaFaro: Composer
Michel Legrand: Composer
Johnny Mandel: Composer
Johnny Mercer: Composer
Marty Morell: Drums, Primary Artist
Anthony Newley: Composer
Richard Rodgers: Composer
Denny Zeitlin: Composer
Earl Zindars: Composer

References