Orrin Evans

Bill Evans Trio - How My Heart Sings! (1962) {OJC Remasters Complete Series rel 2013, item 25of33}
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© 1962, 2013 Riverside / Concord | 60th Anniversary of Riverside Records | 0888072345935
Jazz / Post Bop / Modal Music / Piano

Concord Music Group will release five new titles in its Original Jazz Classics Remasters series. Enhanced by 24-bit remastering by Joe Tarantino, several bonus tracks on nearly each disc (some previously unreleased) and new liner notes providing historical context to the original material, the series celebrates the 60th anniversary of Riverside Records, the prolific New York-based label that showcased some of the most influential jazz artists and recordings of the 1950s and '60s.

Bill Evans Trio - How My Heart Sings (1962) {Riverside Japan, VDJ-1618, Early Press}
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© 1962, 1988 Riverside / Victor Japan | VDJ-1618
Jazz / Modal Music / Post Bop / Piano

Bill Evans' return to full activity in 1962 came almost a year after his celebrated trio recordings at the Village Vanguard. Just ten days after that classic 'live' session, bassist Scott LaFaro had died in a highway accident. Evans, deeply shaken, eventually reformed his trio with the same drummer (Paul Motian) and Chuck Israels on bass. Their first visit to a studio was for a dual purpose: to make an all-ballad-tempo album, Moonbeams, and this 'normal' set at the same time.

Bill Evans - The Solo Sessions, Volume 1 (1963) {Milestone MCD-9170-2 rel 1989}
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© 1963, 1989 Milestone Records / Fantasy | MCD-9170-2
Jazz / Post Bop / Modal Music / Piano

In need of money and wanting to quickly fulfill his contractual obligations to Riverside, Bill Evans recorded two albums worth of solos in one day. The emotional and rather stark music was not initially released until the late '80s although it is now available on a pair of CDs. Due to the lack of much mood or tempo variation, this particular set is recommended mostly for Evans completists and longtime fans. There are two medleys (the pianist was playing one tune after another and a few songs overlapped) and every number would be recorded by Evans (generally in trio formats) at other times.

Bill Evans - Piano Player (1998) {Columbia CK 65361}
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© 1998 Columbia / Legacy / Sony Music | CK 65361
Jazz / Post Bop / Modal Music / Piano

Although this 1998 CD may at first glance seem to be a reissue, all but three of the 11 selections had never been released before. The highly influential pianist Bill Evans is heard in five different settings. An unissued (and slightly earlier rendition) of the third section of George Russell's "All About Rosie" (a showcase for Evans with Russell's 14-piece orchestra) starts off the release. Next are the three previously issued but somewhat obscure numbers: a live rendition of "My Funny Valentine" with Miles Davis in 1958 (played by just a quartet) and two songs from a 1962 set headed by vibraphonist Dave Pike.

Mark Murphy - Rah! (1961) {Riverside OJCCD-141-2 rel 1994} (featuring Bill Evans)
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© 1961, 1994 Riverside / Fantasy | OJCCD-141-2
Jazz / Vocal Jazz / Post Bop / Standards

This early-'60s effort, not Murphy's first but still pretty early in his discographical canon, has worn well over the years. Credit of course can be lavished on the vocalist himself, who didn't sound like this 20 years later, although every stage of his developing vocal chops has been interesting to be sure. On tracks such as "Green Dolphin Street," he dives into the rhythm with the relaxed calm of an expert. And when the result can be the harebrained complexity of "Twisted" or the funky timing of "Doodlin'," the wisdom of letting the experts handle the hard work has never been more apparent. But this is not just Murphy's display.