As early as 1956, Bill Evans was hearing in his mind the kind of trio he would like to have, a band in which everyone was simultaneously free and together, in which time was understood but not always strictly played. In 1959, with his longtime colleague Paul Motian, and the young bassist Scott LaFaro, he at last had a trio in which everyone felt his way of playing time. Furthermore, LaFaro was compatible with Evans’ advanced harmonic ideas, capable of complementing and enhancing the pianist’s sophisticated chord voicings. By early 1961, the trio had realized Evans’ vision to the point where their music seemed the product of one mind, so uncanny was their empathy. Evans’ explorations of the possibilities of the song form advanced jazz as an art and made his group one of the most influential in the music’s history. Explorations was a fitting title for this collection of probing, almost achingly beautiful music. 

 

Beautiful Love (take 2)

Elsa

Nardis

How Deep Is the Ocean?

I Wish I Knew

Sweet and Lovely

The Boy Next Door