Bill Evans "Last Waltz" & "Consecration"

[RDK]

From what I'm reading - and proven by an on-line discography - The Last Waltz box set consists of the Bill Evans Trio's first sets at the Keystone Korner while Consecration contains all of his second sets over a week of performances. But why the hell did Milestone release them this way, which makes for far greater repetition of tunes? Wouldn't it make more sense - and be more desirable - to have the first and second sets together on the same boxes? Was there ever any explanation for this?

Edited September 14, 2005 by RDK

[Michael Fitzgerald]

Wasn't it the case that Consecration was issued way earlier by Alfa? So, The Last Waltz was issued by Milestone first, but later they were able to reissue Consecration. At the time of The Last Waltz, they didn't have the option you suggest.

Mike

[Ron S]

Also, aren't the first sets of each evening contained in "Consecration" and the second sets contained in "Last Waltz", and not the other way around?

[RDK]

Perhaps, Mike, but I guess the question would then be why did Alfa release it that way? It just seems weird to me.

[RDK]

Also, aren't the first sets of each evening contained in "Consecration" and the second sets contained in "Last Waltz", and not the other way around?

←

no, but either way the point is the same...

http://www.jazzdisco.org/evans/dis/c/#800901

[Ron S]

Then this must be wrong (wouldn't be the first time).

[Michael Fitzgerald]

Yes, I think Last Waltz is later sets.

Interesting how this stuff has now entered the legitimate Evans world, issued on Milestone (joining the Riverside and Fantasy material). Here's the quote from the Pettinger bio p. 281:

==========

The trio played Keystone Korner for eight nights, starting on Sunday, August 31. All eight performances were recorded by the club owner, Todd Barkan, and issued in 1989, without authorization from the surviving artists, on an eight-CD set by Alfa Records of Tokyo called Consecration: The Last Complete Collection. Helen Keane told me specifically: "Bill was not happy with his playing while he was there, didn't know he was being recorded, and would never have approved the release of the material."

==========

Hmmmmm. What a difference some dough makes.

Mike

[vibes]

I already have "Turn Out The Stars," but have always been curious about these two boxes. Any recommendations on which is the better of the two, or which should be purchased first and why?

[vibes]

Any opinions?

[jazzbo]

I MIGHT like Consecration better, I reach for it a bit more, but I really couldn't pinpoint why. BOTH are excellent examples in my opinion of this great trio . . . .

[Stereojack]

I think both sets have a lot to recommend them. There is so much great music here. I wonder if Helen Keane's comments related more to the fact that "Consecration" was unauthorized, not whether Bill or anyone else didn't like his performance, which is spectacular, in my opinion.

[Michael Fitzgerald]

I tend to agree - and because of how things later turned out, I'm rather suspect of how she shares "his" opinions with us.

I suppose what she meant to say is: "Bill would never have been happy with his playing until the dollar amount changed."

Mike