Bill Evans Trio – Explorations (Hybrid SACD) * * *

Bill Evans Trio Explorations on Hybrid SACD

The second album by the original Bill Evans group was recorded after the pianist, bassist Scott LaFaro, and drummer Paul Motian had spent a year working together and honing the telepathy that established a new standard for trio interaction. Featuring intimate readings of several standards, plus three compositions from the jazz world that became synonymous with the trio’s sounds, and with ample space for LaFaro’s virtuosity to shine, the album was cited by Evans years later as among his own favorite recordings. Explorations wonderfully preserves one of jazz’s seminal bands on its final visit to a recording studio.

Explorations was a fitting title for this collection of probing, almost achingly beautiful music. It has never been heard with greater depth and clarity than in this Super Audio Compact Disc (SACD) edition.