Digging through my jazz collection today I ran across this Verve release of a Bill Evans offering called Empathy that breaks 2 of then biggest “rules” of record collecting. First, it’s a reissue not an original. Second, it’s a UK pressing of an album recorded in 1962 in NYC, USA. And while this record may not follow the rules that sometimes hold true when it comes to finding records with great sound, it does follow the most important rule – we’ve got to play them to know if they really sound good or not.
Bill’s first collaboration with drummer Shelly Manne featuring Monty Budwig on bass is a huge success both musically and sonically. Rudy Van Gelder engineered Empathy but the sound reminds me of the work Roy DuNann did at Contemporary Records with a “tubey,” full bodied sound that makes the instruments feel larger than life.
This reissue, clearly mastered from original tape, is ridiculously transparent and the mastering engineer nails the dynamics. Manne’s brush strokes present with striking clarity, and without the annoying audiophile record top end boost I hear on so many modern releases and reissues.
Bill Evans fans typically favor his earlier trios, particularly that with Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian, but his chemistry with Manne and Budwig is terrific here.
This version of Empathy is scarce with only a single copy for sale right now on Discogs. If you’re a fan of Bill Evans and great sounding records you should snatch that copy up!