Treasures - Solo, Trio & Orchestral Records from Denmark (1965-69)

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It runs counter to some recent Evans reissues by featuring an array of instrumental configurations, and it’s a strong showcase of how he adapted his playing to reflect the settings. The performances with two different trios, two orchestras, and Evans solo at the piano all display his masterful musicianship and perceptive ears. An official Elemental Music release in collaboration with the Bill Evans Estate, Treasures is a 'holy grail' discovery culled from the private collection of Norwegian jazz musician Ole Matthiessen and released for the very first time as a limited-edition 180-gram 3LP deluxe set. The LPs drawn from the Village Vanguard sessions in 1961, when he recorded with his great trio that included Scott LaFaro on bass Paul Motian on drums, are widely considered to be the pianist’s high-water mark, but he was an artist of unusual consistency, not just in quality but also in musical vision. Evans seems not to distinguish between notes and chords; they are all a means of expression and reflections of each other.

The beautifully designed packageshowcases previously unpublished photos by Jan Perssonfrom Evans' Danish tours, as well as insightful liner notes by acclaimed author, journalist and Evans scholar, Marc Myers, plus interviews and statements from Danish drummer Alex Riel, music journalist, Danish producer and Evans discographer Peter Larsen, Palle Mikkelborg, Evans' long-time trio-mates - bassist Eddie Gomezand drummer Marty Morell, and pianists Ran Blakeand Matthew Shipp. The first indicator that this collection is worth investing in is the packaging: either a triple-gatefold double CD with a 56-page booklet, or a limited-edition triple LP on 180g vinyl. The second indicator of a worthwhile investment is that the credits in the booklet include two people who worked on ‘sound restoration’ – and given that the recordings are from tapes of sixties radio broadcasts, they’ve done a good job. I'm going to give it another chance - just compared to some of the other jazz RSD releases, this one was one of the most expensive and the least rewarding.

As a user, I have always admired Bill Evans' ability to evoke emotions through his playing, and the "Treasures" album is a testament to this prowess.

Pick up any live recording of any incarnation of the Bill Evans Trio and the odds are good that you’ll find a version (or two) of Waltz for Debby, Time Remembered or Nardis. Listening to the trio on this version, Evan’s playing responds by adding more bounce, which speaks to bass and drums and takes nothing away from the emotion he displayed in his solo version of the song. The first eight tracks, from 1965 and in a trio setting with either Alan Dawson or Alex Riel in the drum seat, don't disappoint; they are simply a joy to listen to, with Evans’ touch as light as a feather, his mood upbeat, confident – almost playful – and his playing ingenious, bringing freshness to even the most familiar tunes. Evans recorded a classic uptempo version of “My Funny Valentine” with guitarist Jim Hall on the 1962 album Undercurrent, but here he takes it at medium tempo and lingers over the individual notes in a way that makes you hear the lyrics in your head before adding inventive embellishments to the melody in his arrangement’s middle section. And so it is with these previously unissued ‘solo, trio and orchestra recordings from Denmark (1965–1969)’ on which all of those tunes appear plus a few other Evans favourites, with four versions of Time Remembered alone.All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Fans of Bill Evans are hardly short of existing material, what with reissues, compilations and ‘newly discovered rarities’ adding to an already bulging discography – not to mention that Evans obsessively revisited a handful of tunes over and over, year after year. An official Elemental Music release in collaboration with the Bill Evans Estate, Treasures is truly a ’holy grail’ discovery culled from the private collection of Danish jazz musician Ole Matthiessen and being released for the very first time as a limited-edition 180-gram 3-LP set. Six solo radio performances circa 1965 take disc 2 to a quieter time and place; Evans contemplating the verdant harmonics and inherent beauty of "Re: Person I Knew," "'Round Midnight," and the only known solo, luminous version of "My Funny Valentine. The latest of these, Treasures, is a collection of previously unissued performances—over two hours of music, 2xCD or 3xLP—made for Danish radio and cut between 1965 and 1969.

type": "paragraph"}, {"id": "Ebt7JZHhcN", "data": {"text": "The beautifully designed triple gatefold LP set showcases previously unpublished photos by Jan Persson from Evans' Danish tours, as well as insightful liner notes by acclaimed author, journalist and Evans scholar, Marc Myers, plus interviews and statements from Danish drummer Alex Riel, music journalist, Danish producer and Evans discographer Peter Larsen, Palle Mikkelborg, Evans' long- time trio-mates - bassist Eddie Gomezand drummer Marty Morell, and pianists Ran Blakeand Matthew Shipp.The photo on the booklet’s cover has been reversed, judging by the migration of Evans’s hair parting from left side to right – but no matter. The emotion in his playing comes from that inner world exploration as his fingers match the tone of his piano keys to each emotion his quest uncovers. An official Elemental Music release in collaboration with the Bill Evans Estate, 'Treasures' is a 'holy grail' discovery culled from the private collection of Norwegian jazz musician Ole Matthiessenand released for the very first time as a 2CD limited-edition in deluxe packaging. On one piece, he might leave chasms of silence and finger each note with almost painful delicacy, and on another, his playing might be very dense, as if he’s compelled to explore every structural possibility simultaneously.