Bill Evans (Piano): Moon Beams (45 RPM) auf 2 LPs

1962 ging Bill Evans für das Label Riverside Records ins Studio, um die ersten Sessions mit seinem neu formierten Trio aufzunehmen. Die Herausforderung für den Pianisten war groß. Zwar konnte er nach wie vor auf den Schlagzeuger Paul Motian zurückgreifen, der seit 1959 mit ihm zusammenspielte. Doch der tragische Tod des Bassisten Scott LaFaro, der am 6. Juli 1961 bei einem Autounfall ums Leben gekommen war, hatte im Trio eine schmerzliche Lücke hinterlassen. Geschlossen wurde diese durch Chuck Israels, der zuvor zum Sextett von George Russel und auch kurz zu Eric Dolphys Band gehört hatte. Wie sehr der Tod von LaFaro den sensiblen Evans erschüttert hatte, verdeutlichen die Aufnahmen von “Moon Beams”. Es war Evans’ erstes reines Balladenalbum und die musikalische Stimmung spiegelte die düster-traurige und getragene Gemütslage des Pianisten wider.

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Bill Evans was left reeling by the accidental death of his brilliant bassist Scott LaFaro in mid-1961 and didn't feel ready to record with his new bassist until nearly a year later. When he did go into the studio in May and June of 1962 with Chuck Israels and drummer Paul Motian, the "second trio" produced material for two albums that were to be among Evans's most popular. Moonbeams includes ballad material from the sessions. The rest of the music from the sessions is in How My Heart Sings! In Moon Beams, Evans did some of his most introspective playing, his sense of loss apparent but relieved by Israels's power and empathy. "Polka Dots and Moon Beams," "If You Could See Me Now," and the others represent Evans at his best, his lyricism underlaid with rhythmic firmness even in the extraordinarily slow "In Love in Vain."

With Chuck Israels, Paul Motian
(concordmusicgroup.com)

Bill Evans was left reeling by the accidental death of his brilliant bassist Scott LaFaro in mid-1961 and didn't feel ready to record with his new bassist until nearly a year later. When he did go into the studio in May and June of 1962 with Chuck Israels and drummer Paul Motian, the "second trio" produced material for two albums that were to be among Evans's most popular. Moonbeams includes ballad material from the sessions. The rest of the music from the sessions is in How My Heart Sings!. In Moon Beams, Evans did some of his most introspective playing, his sense of loss apparent but relieved by Israels's power and empathy. "Polka Dots and Moon Beams," "If You Could See Me Now," and the others represent Evans at his best, his lyricism underlaid with rhythmic firmness even in the extraordinarily slow "In Love in Vain."

With Chuck Israels, Paul Motian
(concordmusicgroup. com)