The newest gem in the ever-growing catalog of , the late jazz pianist, commemorates a return to his roots.
European classical music is at the foundation of Evans鈥� distinctive sound, and 鈥淭ales 鈥� Live in Copenhagen (1964)鈥� features previously unreleased recordings from his first European tour.
The vinyl version will be released for Record Store Day on Friday, Nov. 24, with the CD edition scheduled for Dec. 1. The album is record label Elemental Music鈥檚 follow-up to 鈥淭reasures 鈥� Solo, Trio & Orchestra Recordings from Denmark (1965-1969),鈥� an engaging two-CD set of later performances.
鈥淭ales鈥� contains 11 cuts, 10 of which feature Evans with bassist Chuck Israels and drummer Larry Bunker. Most of the tunes had been part of the trio鈥檚 repertoire for some time when they arrived in Copenhagen, and their comfort level results in music filled with inventive interplay that is a marvel of syncopation and synchronicity.
As always, Evans鈥� rhythmic creativity delights. There are two renditions of 鈥淗ow My Heart Sings,鈥� and the piano sparkles with rapid stop-and-start single-note explorations that swerve, skip, spin and dance.
Since this is Bill Evans, the music sings as well as swings. 鈥淲altz for Debby鈥� receives a lovely, spirited rendering, and while 鈥淢y Foolish Heart鈥� begins at a mournful tempo in two performances, Evans鈥� embrace of the melody soon dispels the gloom.
There鈥檚 also a lyrical interpretation of 鈥淚 Didn鈥檛 Know What Time It Was.鈥� According to the extensive, excellent liner notes, it鈥檚 Evans鈥� only recording of the Rodgers-Hart song.
Considering the age and sources of the material, the sound quality is remarkably good. That makes it easy to enjoy Evans鈥� earliest European evocations of the many influences he distilled so beautifully, from Miles and Monk to Debussy and Beethoven.
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AP music reviews:
Steve Wine, The Associated Press
