Bill Evans
★★★★ Live At Ronnie Scott’s RESONANCE. CD/DL/LP
Mid-career mastery from a king of the keys.
The trio format suited jazz piano giant Bill Evans – his dense chord clusters and unique harmonic combinations filled up plenty of space. When he’s the focus on the bandstand, his classical roots also move to the fore and show in the stately elegance of his phrasing. In this previously unreleased London club gig from 1968, he’s accompanied by bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Jack DeJohnette. The material ranges from the Great American Songbook (George Gershwin, Jerome Kern), contemporary pop (André Previn, Burt Bacharach) and jazz peers (Miles Davis, Denny Zeitlin). Highlights include Thelonious Monk’s ‘Round Midnight, rendered more sprightly than its usual mournful tempo but without losing its deep blues roots. And Waltz For Debby, arguably Evans’ finest original ballad, also swings a lot harder here than elsewhere, transforming into a rousing showcase for three crackerjack musicians.