Set for release on October 9, the live jazz album California, Here I Come is returning to print as the newest addition to the Verve Vault Series, according to an announcement by uDiscoverMusic. Recorded across two nights in August 1967 at the Village Vanguard in Manhattan, the double album features pianist Bill Evans alongside bassist Eddie Gómez and drummer Philly Joe Jones.
The 1967 Village Vanguard Sessions
According to uDiscoverMusic, the upcoming reissue captures Bill Evans performing in a rare trio lineup six years after his landmark 1961 recordings at the same Manhattan venue, which yielded the celebrated Riverside albums Sunday At The Village Vanguard and Waltz For Debby. Despite the record’s title, Evans recorded the material in New York rather than the West Coast. The name stems from the opening track, “California, Here I Come,” a pop standard originally written by Bud DeSylva, Joseph Meyer, and Al Jolson for the Broadway production Bombo.
Reissue Production and Tracklist Details
The Verve Vault Series release is cut from original analog master tapes by engineer Ryan K. Pressed on 180-gram vinyl and housed in a gatefold sleeve featuring original artwork, the physical release is limited to four copies per customer for pre-orders. The 15-song tracklist features jazz standards including “‘Round Midnight,” “In A Sentimental Mood,” and “Stella by Starlight,” alongside the Burt Bacharach and Hal David composition “Alfie,” which was a contemporary addition to the repertoire at the time of the 1967 performances.
Historical Context and Posthumous Release
According to uDiscoverMusic, California, Here I Come was first issued in 1982, two years after Evans’ death in September 1980. The recordings serve as a document of Evans’ late-60s trio work, highlighting an approach that merged complex music theory with accessible, conversational phrasing. The current vinyl reissue brings the out-of-print title back to the market as part of Verve Records’ ongoing analog restoration program.
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