Bill Evans Trio: Everybody Digs Bill Evans

Everybody Digs Bill Evans was Evans' second album as a leader and his first for Riverside Records. He'd just spent most of 1958 learning from a couple legends as part of the Miles Davis Sextet alongside John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley, contributing to the sessions that would become Kind of Blue. His fellow musicians already knew his worth. The album title was almost literally accurate, and the four endorsements on the cover from Miles, George Shearing, Ahmad Jamal, and Cannonball embarrassed Bill but could easily have been multiplied many times over.

Backed by Sam Jones on bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums, Evans laid down some of his most swinging trio sides. But the session would be memorable if it had only yielded "Peace Piece," his remarkable and haunting solo improvisation that closes Side A. That track alone justifies the album's place in jazz history.

This Analogue Productions 45 RPM reissue comes from their Fantasy 45 Series, one of the most ambitious audiophile projects of the 2000s. Kevin Gray and Steve Hoffman mastered from the original analog master tapes at Cohearent Audio. The decision to spread the album across four sides at 45 RPM provides the space needed to capture the subtleties and dynamics of Evans' playing. Early pressings were manufactured at Pallas in Germany on 200g vinyl. Later pressings came from Quality Record Pressings.

The sonic presentation is exceptional. Evans' piano tone is rich and present with excellent note weight. You can hear the felt on the hammers, the resonance of the strings, the decay of each note. Sam Jones' bass has proper body without blooming, and Philly Joe Jones' cymbals shimmer with natural high frequency extension. The soundstage is open and transparent, placing you in the studio at Reeves Sound in Manhattan.

This is where things get interesting for collectors. Original Riverside pressings are notoriously inconsistent in sound quality. Some are mediocre at best, veiled and lacking dynamics. The Analogue Productions 45 RPM reissue represents a massive leap forward. It's more musical and transparent than the originals, with greater three dimensionality and improved frequency extremes, especially in the lower octaves. One reviewer noted it sounds better than any other version they've encountered, including the various heavy vinyl remasterings that have appeared over the years.

From a pressing standpoint, this is reference quality vinyl. Dead quiet backgrounds, perfectly flat, and centered. The numbered copies command serious money on the secondary market. The 2004 release sold out quickly and has become one of the most sought after titles in the Fantasy 45 Series.

For context, a 2024 Record Store Day mono pressing cut by Kevin Gray offers another excellent option at a more accessible price point. But if you want the definitive stereo experience of Everybody Digs Bill Evans on vinyl, this Analogue Productions 45 RPM edition is it.

One of the finest jazz reissues ever pressed. Essential for Bill Evans fans and serious jazz collectors. 💰

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