Description
Walter Bishop Jr – Bish At The Bank Live In Baltimore – RSD Double 180 Gram Vinyl Records
Bish at the Bank: Live in Baltimore is a posthumous live release showcasing the phenomenal bop piano stylings of Walter Bishop Jr., one of the most underappreciated yet immensely talented jazz pianists of the 20th century. Issued by Reel to Real Recordings in 2022, this double LP set captures two previously unreleased live performances recorded in 1966 and 1967 at The Famous Ballroom in Baltimore, presented by the Left Bank Jazz Society—an essential grassroots organization responsible for documenting and presenting some of the most vital jazz performances of the era.
At the time of these recordings, Walter Bishop Jr. was a respected figure in jazz, having worked with Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, and Art Blakey, yet he often remained in the shadow of more widely celebrated contemporaries. Bish at the Bank offers long-overdue documentation of his commanding live presence, as well as a showcase for his fluid technique, rhythmic drive, and lyrical soloing—all hallmarks of his style that fused bebop agility with a hard-swinging groove.
The Personnel:
Across the two sets (from 1966 and 1967), Bishop is joined by different rhythm sections, which include top-tier collaborators:
Leroy Vinnegar (bass)
Jimmy Garrison (bass, known for his work with John Coltrane)
Dick Berk and Alan Dawson (drums)
These sidemen bring both swinging momentum and deep rhythmic sensitivity, providing a perfect foundation for Bishop’s inventive improvisations.
Musical Highlights:
The repertoire includes a mix of jazz standards and bebop staples, all interpreted with Bishop’s signature finesse. Expect inventive takes on:
“My Secret Love” – full of harmonic invention and rhythmic punch.
“Willow Weep for Me” – a deeply expressive, blues-tinged rendition.
“Days of Wine and Roses” – a lively and elegant reading of the Mancini classic.
“Milestones” – a fiery performance that nods to his Miles Davis connection, with bebop dexterity and modal flair.
The recording quality, sourced from original tapes by Left Bank archivist Vernon Welsh, is surprisingly clear and vibrant for the era, capturing the ambiance of a real jazz club setting—audience chatter, clinking glasses, and all—which only enhances the sense of immediacy and authenticity.
Bish at the Bank is more than a great jazz record—it’s a rescue mission for a master pianist’s legacy. Bishop’s style combines the intellectual rigor of bebop with soulful phrasing and effortless swing, and these recordings present him in peak form, in front of an appreciative live audience. It also documents a vital moment in jazz history, when artists were bridging the golden age of bebop with the more expansive directions of the late ’60s.
Bish at the Bank: Live in Baltimore is a must-hear archival gem, shining overdue light on Walter Bishop Jr.’s extraordinary talent as a pianist, improviser, and bandleader. It’s not just a historical document—it’s alive with energy, swing, and imagination, offering a front-row seat to one of jazz’s unsung heroes doing what he did best. For fans of hard bop, piano trio/quartet formats, and live jazz history, this album is essential listening.
‘RSD First’ Release Limited edition 1st pressing of 3,000
Never-before-released live 1960s recording from The Madison Club and Famous Ballroom in Baltimore
Deluxe limited-edition hand-numbered 180-gram 2-LP set
Includes extensive booklet with rare photos, essays and liner notes
Remastered audio transferred directly from the original reels of 100 minutes of music!
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
My Secret Love
Blues
Days Of Wine And Roses
Quiet Nights
If I Were A Bell
So What
Willow Weep For Me
Pfrancing (No Blues)
