Search - Bill Evans :: From the 70's

Decked out in a gaudy leisure suit, sporting a full beard, and even playing some electric piano, Bill Evans wasn't immune to '70s fashion, but don't be fooled. This CD is classic, straight-up Bill Evans in duo and trio settings, and documents his work during the period 1973-1977. The four trio tracks, featuring Eddie Gomez on bass and Marty Morell on drums, come from the original From the '70s recording, but the duos with Gomez represent previously unreleased alternate takes from the albums Eloquence and Intuition. Throughout, Evans's distinctively rich sound and unerring swing project warmth and confidence, indicating a musician comfortable with the stripped-down setting. Gomez, in particular, provides a nice foil for Evans, his woody tone often running parallel to the pianist's ruminations, whereas Morell's self-effacing drum style remains tastefully in the background. Of course, good taste is Evans's middle name--even the dated electric piano sound on "The Nature of Things" remains eloquent in his hands. All in all, a welcome reissue. --Wally Shoup