''Empathy'' is a 1962 album by jazz musicians

Bill Evans William John Evans (August 16, 1929 – September 15, 1980) was an American jazz pianist and composer who worked primarily as the leader of his trio. His use of impressionist harmony, interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, block ch ...

and Shelly Manne. It was recorded and released by Verve Records, the label Evans joined a year after the recording session. The album came about when Manne and Evans were sharing a bill at New York's Village Vanguard nightclub, and Verve producer

Creed Taylor Creed Bane Taylor V (May 13, 1929 – August 22, 2022) was an American record producer, best known for his work with CTI Records, which he founded in 1967. His career also included periods at Bethlehem Records, ABC-Paramount Records (including ...

proposed a studio collaboration for the two bandleaders. Riverside Records, Evans' label during 1962, allowed Evans to participate, and the trio was completed by Manne's bass player of the time,

Monty Budwig Monte Rex Budwig (December 26, 1929 – March 9, 1992) was a West Coast jazz double bassist, professionally known as Monty Budwig. Early life Monte Rex Budwig was born in Pender, Nebraska, on December 26, 1929.His full birthname was Monte Rex Bu ...

. The album features some classic jazz standards and two songs by Irving Berlin from the 1962 musical Mr. President. The sculpture on the album cover was by Sheldon Machlin.

Reception

Leonard Feather had this to say about the album in his April 11, 1963, review in ''

DownBeat ' (styled in all caps) is an American music magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond", the last word indicating its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chi ...

'' magazine: "Essentially the focus is on Evans, as it should be; yet because of the skill with which he and Manne cooperated, one is often conscious that an important interplay is involved, one that lifts the results far out of the normal piano-with-rhythm class."''DownBeat'', April 11, 1963, vol. 30, no. 9. Reviewing the album for AllMusic, David Nathan wrote: " vans'playing seemed lighter, freer, and more relaxed than it had for a while.... Listening to these three vans, Manne, Budwig it's clear that everyone was having a good time and simply enjoying being relieved of their duties with their regular combos, even if for just one day."

Track listing

#" The Washington Twist" ( Irving Berlin) – 6:26 #"

Danny Boy "Danny Boy" is a ballad, written by English songwriter Frederic Weatherly in 1913, and set to the traditional Irish melody of "Londonderry Air". History In 1910, in Bath, Somerset, the English lawyer and lyricist Frederic Weatherly initial ...

" (

Frederick Weatherly Frederic Edward Weatherly, KC (4 October 1848 – 7 September 1929) was an English lawyer, author, lyricist and broadcaster. He was christened and brought up using the name Frederick Edward Weatherly, and appears to have adopted the spelling 'F ...

) - 3:42 #" Let's Go Back to the Waltz" ( Irving Berlin) – 4:30 #" With a Song in My Heart" (

Richard Rodgers Richard Charles Rodgers (June 28, 1902 – December 30, 1979) was an American Musical composition, composer who worked primarily in musical theater. With 43 Broadway musicals and over 900 songs to his credit, Rodgers was one of the most ...

Lorenz Hart Lorenz Milton Hart (May 2, 1895 – November 22, 1943) was an American lyricist and half of the Broadway songwriting team Rodgers and Hart. Some of his more famous lyrics include " Blue Moon", " The Lady Is a Tramp", "Manhattan", "Bewitched, Both ...

) - 9:12 #" Goodbye" ( Gordon Jenkins) - 5:12 #" I Believe in You" ( Frank Loesser) - 5:52

Personnel

- piano *

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

* Shelly Manne -

drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

References

External links

Jazz Discography entries for Bill Evans
{{DEFAULTSORT:Empathy (Album) 1962 albums Verve Records albums Bill Evans albums Albums produced by Creed Taylor Albums recorded at Van Gelder Studio