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Larry McDonough CD Release for Conversations with Bill Evans Live
Larry McDonough Returns to The Dakota
(1) CD Release for Conversations with Bill Evans Live and
(2) Performance of June 25, 1961 - Bill Evans Trio at the Village Vanguard
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
7:00 p.m.
The Dakota
1010 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis
612-332-1010
Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Larry McDonough, piano
Greg Stinson, bass
Dean White, drums
Tickets
https://bit.ly/4x0E8HN
Dakota Event
https://www.dakotacooks.com/event/larry-mcdonough-conversations-with-bill-evans-live-cd-release-aug4-2026/
Facebook Event
https://www.facebook.com/events/2112790776788643
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Award-winning pianist, composer, and singer Larry McDonough returns to bring the legendary pianist and composer Bill Evans back to life in a solo and trio show covering the music and personal life of Bill Evans that has filled rooms in across the country. The show includes solo piano, trio, voice, spoken word, and commentary on the life of Bill Evans.
Evans performed on the Miles Davis album "Kind of Blue" in 1959, the best-selling jazz album ever. His trio with bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian introduced simultaneous improvisation and is regarded as a seminal modern jazz trio. He received 31 Grammy nominations and seven awards, and was inducted into the DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame.
McDonough recorded shows around the United States in 2024 and 2025 for his new CD, Conversations with Bill Evans Live. After releasing it in Berkeley in May, he now releases it in Minnesota at the Dakota. He will perform selections from the CD in the first 30 minutes.
https://larrymcdonoughjazz.homestead.com/ConversationswithBillEvansLiveCD.html https://larrymcdonough.bandcamp.com/
Then he will be joined by the Larry McDonough Trio, with Greg Stinson, bass, and Dean White, drums, performing music of the early Bill Evans Trio, with Bill Evans, bassist and composer Scott Lafaro, and drummer Paul Motian on June 25, 1961 at the Village Vanguard. “Sunday at the Village Vanguard” and “Waltz for Debby” were the last recordings of this trio on June 25, 1961, as LaFaro died in a car accident just ten days after the live date at the Village Vanguard. The trio revolutionized jazz, with each member improvising at the same time while performing recognizable pieces.
Selections from Conversations with Bill Evans Live:
https://larrymcdonoughjazz.homestead.com/ConversationswithBillEvansLiveCD.html
● Turn Out the Stars, composed by Bill Evans - https://larrymcdonoughjazz.homestead.com/files/ConversationswithBillEvans/Turn_Out_the_Stars.mp3
● Improvisations, written by Richard Terrill - https://larrymcdonoughjazz.homestead.com/files/ConversationswithBillEvans/Improvisations.mp3
● Waltz for Bill Composed and Performed by Larry McDonough - https://youtu.be/0fGqYbjfiWg
Larry McDonough Trio Performing June 25, 1961 - Bill Evans Trio at the Village Vanguard
● Sample - http://larrymcdonoughjazz.homestead.com/files/June251961/June_25__1961_-_Sample.mp3
● Gloria’s Step - https://youtu.be/8apU73AQAEk
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Bill Evans
Bill Evans was born William John Evans on August 16, 1929, and was one of the most influential jazz pianists in history. His use of impressionist harmony, block chords, complex rhythms, and simultaneous improvisation of group members redefined groups, composition, and jazz pianists. He performed on the Miles Davis album “Kind of Blue” in 1959, the best-selling jazz album ever. His trio with bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian introduced simultaneous improvisation and is regarded as a seminal modern jazz trio. In 1963, Evans recorded Conversations with Myself, a solo album produced with over-dubbing technology allowing him to perform with himself. He later collaborated with the singer Tony Bennett on two critically acclaimed albums: The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album (1975) and Together Again (1977). His last trio included bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Joe LaBarbera. Evans died on September 15, 1980 at age 51 in New York City. He received 31 Grammy nominations and seven awards, and was inducted into the DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Evans
Larry grew up listening and transcribing Evans’ music, having seen his live performances in the 1970s. His shows and recordings feature the music of Evans. Larry has become friends with Evans’ widow Nenette, who supports Larry’s projects and provides him with some of Bill Evans’ manuscripts. Larry is the only Minnesotan invited to study the Bill Evans Archive at the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies of Southeastern Louisiana University. Movie director Bruce Spiegel chose Larry to host Minnesota showings of his documentary film “Bill Evans Time Remembered.” Jazz curator Steve Kenny has called Larry the Bill Evans scholar of Minnesota.
Event Links
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/3760541-0
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3760541-2
