Times Remembered Volume 15: The Final Years of the Bill Evans Trio

Joe La Barbera was offered the drum chair in 1978, completing the jazz trio with Bill Evans and bassist Marc Johnson. "Times Remembered" provides an intimate peek into Evanss life, critical recording sessions, and behind-the-scenes anecdotes. La Barbera tells the story with love and respect, showing Evanss humanity and ability to transcend physical weakness.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 20 October 2021
Publisher: University of North Texas Press,U.S.

In the late 1970s, legendary pianist Bill Evans reached the pinnacle of his career. He revolutionized the jazz trio format (bass, piano, drums) by giving equal emphasis to each part, achieving a "telepathic level" of interplay that jazz historian Ted Gioia praised. This created an ideal opportunity for a sideman, and after auditioning in 1978, Joe La Barbera was overjoyed when he was offered the drum chair, completing the trio with Evans and bassist Marc Johnson. In their book Times Remembered, La Barbera and co-author Charles Levin offer an intimate fly-on-the-wall glimpse into Evans's life, critical recording sessions, and behind-the-scenes anecdotes of life on the road. Joe delves into the magical connection between the trio, describing how they quickly gelled to play music on the deepest and purest level imaginable. He also witnesses the tragic demise of his dream gig, which was a casualty of Evans's historical drug abuse. However, La Barbera tells this story with love and respect, devoid of judgment, showcasing Evans's humanity and remarkable ability to transcend physical weakness and deliver exceptional performances at nearly every show.

Weight: 472g
Dimension: 161 x 237 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781574418446