This April, Resonance Records returns to the vault for new archival releases on vinyl and CD from two titans of jazz: pianist Bill Evans and guitarist Wes Montgomery.

Evans in England is due on limited edition 2-LP vinyl on Record Store Day, Saturday, April 13, with 2-CD and digital versions arriving one week later on April 19.  The album transports listeners back to 1969, when the introspective Evans (1929-1980) was joined in his familiar trio setting by bassist Eddie Gomez and guitarist Marty Morell for a stand at Ronnie Scott’s in December 1969.  The recording was captured a year into the tenure of what would become Evans’ longest-running Trio.  In the tradition of such previous Evans projects as Live at Art D’Lugoff’s Top of the Gate (2012), Some Other Time (2016), and Another Time (2017), Evans in England is a major discovery.  It features Evans’ earliest recordings of “The Two Lonely People” and “Sugar Plum” as well as moving renditions of Miles Davis’ “So What” (introduced with Evans on 1959’s landmark Kind of Blue) and the pianist’s own compositions like “Re: Person I Knew” and “Waltz for Debby.”  The 18-track, 2-disc set also features standards like “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life,” “Come Rain or Come Shine,” “My Foolish Heart,” and “Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me).”  The vinyl version has been mastered by Bernie Grundman and pressed at RTI.  The accompanying book features essays by Resonance’s Zev Feldman and journalist Marc Myers; interviews with Gomez, Morell and filmmaker Leon Terjanian (who brought the private tapes to the label’s attention); and rare photographs.

Also coming to vinyl on Record Store Day and CD/digital the following Friday is Back on Indiana Avenue: The Carroll DeCamp Recordings from Wes Montgomery (1923-1968).  The title harkens back to Resonance’s 2012 collection Echoes of Indiana Avenue, which has since been followed by numerous other significant Montgomery vault excursions.  Back on Indiana Avenue returns to the guitarist’s Indianapolis roots, before his 1959 signing with Riverside Records.  Producer Feldman explains, “When we released Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we didn’t know the story of where the tapes had come from, but now with Back on Indiana Avenue we know they came from the great composer/pianist Carroll DeCamp. This release is another ‘holy grail’ find for Wes Montgomery fans.”  These recordings find the late Montgomery in numerous settings including piano quartets, organ trios, sextets, and drummer-less trios a la The Nat King Cole Trio.  It’s believed that personnel on these live and studio recordings includes Wes’ brother Buddy Montgomery and longtime collaborator Melvin Rhyne, and pianists John Bunch and Carl Perkins, to name a few.  The 22 tracks include copious standards and songs that Montgomery would immortalize at Riverside such as “Round Midnight,” “The End of a Love Affair,” “Four on Six,” and “Tune Up.”  The collection includes a booklet with essays by historian Lewis Porter and Zev Feldman, interviews with jazz legends George Benson and John Scofield, saxophonist-educator Jamey Aebersold, and guitarist Royce Campbell, nephew of Carroll DeCamp.  The 2-LP vinyl edition has been mastered by Bernie Grundman and pressed at RTI.

Look for both of these collectors’ dream releases on Record Store Day – Saturday April 13 – on limited edition double vinyl and on Friday, April 19 on CD and digital formats!  You’ll find CD pre-order links and full track listings for both releases below.

Bill Evans, Evans in England (Resonance, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Disc 1

1. Our Love Is Here to Stay
2. Sugar Plum
3. Stella by Starlight
4. My Foolish Heart
5. Waltz for Debby
6. ‘Round Midnight
7. The Two Lonely People
8. Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)

Disc 2

1. Elsa
2. What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?
3. Turn Out the Stars
4. Re: Person I Knew
5. Goodbye
6. Come Rain or Come Shine
7. Very Early
8. So What
9. Midnight Mood
10. Polka Dots and Moonbeams

Wes Montgomery, Back on Indiana Avenue: The Carroll DeCamp Recordings (Resonance, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Disc 1

1. Four on Six
2. Mr. Walker
3. ‘Round Midnight
4. So What
5. The End of a Love Affair
6. Tune Up
7. West Coast Blues
8. Jingles
9. It’s You or No One
10. Nothing Ever Changes My Love for You
11. Ecaroh
12. Sandu
13. Whisper Not

Disc 2

1. Stompin’ at the Savoy
2. It’s You or No One (Alternate Take)
3. Opus de Funk
4. Summertime
5. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
6. Easy Living
7. Four
8. I’ll Remember April
9. The Song Is You