DESCRIPTION:
At Shelly's Manne-Hole (or more completely, Bill Evans Trio at Shelly's Manne-Hole, Hollywood, California) is a live album by American jazz pianist Bill Evans, released in 1963 as his last recording for the Riverside label. The trio featured Chuck Israels, who followed Scott LaFaro on bass in autumn 1961, and Larry Bunker on drums, who just joined the reformed trio, after Paul Motian had left.

Personnel: Bill Evans (p) Chuck Israels (b) Larry Bunker (dr)
Released: 1963
Recorded: May 30 & 31, 1963, "Shelly's Manne-Hole", Hollywood, CA
Label: Riverside
Producer: Orrin Keepnews

"Isn't It Romantic?" (Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart)
"The Boy Next Door" (Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin)
"Wonder Why" (Nicholas Brodszky, Sammy Cahn)
"Swedish Pastry" (Barney Kessel)
"Love Is Here to Stay" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin)
"'Round Midnight" (Thelonious Monk, Cootie Williams)
"Stella by Starlight" (Ned Washington, Victor Young)
"All the Things You Are" (Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern)
"Blues in F"

Writing for Allmusic, music critic Daniel Gioffre wrote of the album: "This particular trio may lack some of the sheer combustive force of the better-known lineup, but it is, if possible, even more sensitive, melancholic, and nostalgic than the previous band... Jazz is rarely as sensitive or as melodic as this. Another classic from Bill Evans and company."

Although the Scott LaFaro-Paul Motian lineup of the Bill Evans Trio is generally considered to be the strongest, Chuck Israels and Larry Bunker make a strong case of their own on At Shelly's Manne-Hole, a 1964 release that finds the entire band in classic form. This particular trio may lack some of the sheer combustive force of the better-known lineup, but it is, if possible, even more sensitive, melancholic, and nostalgic than the previous band. The leadoff track, "Isn't It Romantic," is one of Evans' finest moments, with the gently swinging theme leading into a strong, if restrained, solo from Israels. Over Bunker's sensitive brush work, Evans comments briefly and beautifully on the theme before returning to the head. The band's readings of such classics as "'Round Midnight," "Stella By Starlight," and "All the Things You Are" are wonderful, but it is the lesser-known tracks, such as "Swedish Pastry" and the aforementioned "Isn't It Romantic," that makes this recording so valuable. Jazz is rarely as sensitive or as melodic as this. Another classic from Bill Evans and company.
AllMusic Review by Daniel Gioffre