The latest prestigious small batch release from Craft Recordings showcases Bill Evans at his best.
Bill Evans Trio – Explorations – Riverside Records RLP 351 (1961)/Craft Recordings CR00825 Limited Edition Small Batch Vinyl 180-gram stereo vinyl [12/13/2024], 39:48 *****:
(Bill Evans – piano; Scott LaFaro – double bass; Paul Motian – drums)
Craft Recordings has released the seventh “small batch” recording from their esteemed jazz catalogue. Past artists include Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk. Each of the single vinyl discs are pressed on 180-gram Vinyl (RTI) utilizing Neotech VR 900-D2 super vinyl in a one-step lacquer process. This helps to recreate the sonic details of the original recording with significantly reduced surface noise. The latest (with a limit of 2500 copies) is Bill Evans Trio – Explorations featuring Scott LaFaro (double bass) and Paul Motian (drums). This trio is considered to be among the finest in jazz lore, and there were only two albums from this lineup. All of the alleged drug-related tensions connected to early 60’s Evans did not impact the artistic gravitas of this Riverside session.
Explorations consists of five standards and three original compositions. The trio interplay is exceptional…they can operate in lockstep or improvise simultaneously. Side 1 opens with a medium-swing number, “Israel”. Like many other songs, the pianist has recorded this numerous times. Evans’ graceful elocution and timing is impeccable. LaFaro executes a nimble gliding solo with Motian and Evans gently shading the bass. After a brief piano run, Motian solos. Evans’ lyrical finesse and tender phrasing create a hushed elegance as LaFaro and Motian frame the arrangement with relaxed finesse. Evans glides through a relatively obscure show tune (“Beautiful Love”) with soulful right hand notation and punctuated chords. LaFaro offers another nimble solo with his band mates providing understated framing. “Elsa” (written by Earl Zinders) is performed with a haunting melancholy that always has an undercurrent of jauntiness. Evans captures the essence of the melody with a nuanced varied approach (maybe a touch of 3/4 time). Motian’s cymbal work is a master class in subtlety.
Probably the most frequently recorded piece of music by Bill Evans (12 times) is the Miles Davis-penned “Nardis”. Evans’ complex yet breezy articulation has a varied tempo with precision, agility and the customary glowing warmth. LaFaro (with another prominent solo) and Motian engage seamlessly on the familiar vamp and solos. “How Deep Is The Ocean?” has enjoyed a long run as a pop and jazz vocal standard (Frank Sinatra, Nat “King Cole”, Billie Holiday). In the hands of this pianist, it is re-invented as a statement of melodic exploration and brilliant instrumental technique. A mid-song tempo uptick is compelling and leads back to the laid-back groove. Evans distills all of the emotional context of “I Wish I Knew” and transforms it into a modern jazz ballad. With trilling and unconventional chording, it feels like the tune was written specifically for the jazz icon. Being able to breathe new life into vintage material is part of the Bill Evans legacy. On “Sweet And Lovely”, Evans breaks into a full-on improvisational solo at the 0:50 mark after the first verse. He intermingles playfulness and finger-snapping coolness with deftness. He exchanges with Motian who gets a well-deserved solo. The jazzy chord changes resonate.
Bill Evans Trio – Explorations is another superior small batch release. This is a gem for vinyl collectors. The all-analog mastering (including a tube amp) by Bernie Grundman is vibrant with pristine, balanced acoustics and excellent stereo separation. There is an expansive feel to the mix that belies the three-piece instrumentation. The vinyl (which is attached to a ribbon pull tab) is housed in a foil-stamped, linen-wrapped slipcase with a reproduction of the original album cover and high-quality record sleeve.
Highest recommendation!
—Robbie Gerson
Bill Evans Trio – Explorations
TrackList:
Side 1: Israel; Haunted Heart; Beautiful Love; Elsa
Side 2: Nardis; How Deep Is The Ocean?; I Wish I Knew; Sweet And Lovely
More Information through Craft Recordings:
