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

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Highlights of the collection include trio performances from 1965 featuring legendary Danish jazz bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen; the only solo piano version of 'My Funny Valentine' by Evans known to exist; a 1966 orchestral suite performed with the Evans trio accompanied by the Danish Radio Big Bandconducted by trumpeter/arranger Palle Mikkelborg; and much more! Eddie Gomez was the longest serving bassist of any Bill Evans Trio (1966–77), and Marty Morell a longstanding member too (1968–75), so it’s interesting to hear them performing with Evans relatively early on. Refreshing surprises include a perky and cheerful take on In a Sentimental Mood (which, like My Funny Valentine, is a tune that in the wrong hands tends towards the maudlin). 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. Evans’s piano playing explores an inner world where everything makes sense and is pristine and beautiful.

The Royal Dutch Symphony (featuring trumpeter Palle Mikkelborg) joins bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Marty Morrell (who all share their recollections of the time in the beautifully curated deluxe booklet) for luxuriant renderings of, among others, "Time Remembered" and "My Bells. Highlights of the collection include trio performances from 1965 featuring legendary Danish jazz bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen; the only solo piano version of 'My Funny Valentine' by Evans known to exist; a 1966 orchestral suite performed with the Evans trio accompanied by the Danish Radio Big Bandconducted by trumpeter/arranger Palle Mikkelborg; and much more!NHØP and the two drummers each swing beautifully behind him, making these two of the most satisfying Evans trios I have ever heard. A few songs later, he ends his solo set with “Epilogue,” the haunting fragment threaded through his 1958 LP Everybody Digs Bill Evans. Monk’s “‘Round Midnight” opens with a knotty and angular intro before the eternal melody glides out of the clouds, and Evans sometimes seems like he’s wrestling with the tune, trying to extract every viable idea from its harmonic shape. 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.

This even though Evans probably didn’t give these sessions much thought once they were over—he was a busy man during these years, always on the way to the next gig. Most purchases from business sellers are protected by the Consumer Contract Regulations 2013 which give you the right to cancel the purchase within 14 days after the day you receive the item. But while the earlier trio work here is good and the latter is great, the more tantalizing Treasures sessions are those with the Royal Danish Symphony Orchestra and the Danish Radio Big Band, and those that feature Evans alone.The performances also sound more expansive, this trio’s take on Nardis (again, closing the set) a lengthy 8:06 versus the 3:35 of the previous set. The beautifully designed package includes previously unpublished photos, insightful liner notes and interviews. These recordings capture the trios at the height of Evans’s foray into leading a trio that listened and responded to each other rather than the supportive musicians leaning back and accompanying the piano.