The excellent trio that Evans led with LaFaro and Motian made just four albums between 1959 and 1961. The first, Portrait In Jazz, and the last two, recorded live at the Village Vanguard, were rapturously received. The two live sets were considered by many to be the pinnacle of piano-jazz performance and remain in that exalted position to this day.
Explorations, recorded in February 1961, has tended to be overlooked or underrated or, indeed, hardly noticed. It shouldn’t be, because it is easily the equal of the other three and has some of the trio’s finest, lyrical playing on record. The success is mainly due to the almost telepathic integration between the three musicians but also to the choice of ideal material and an almost perfectly balance programme.
Brian Morton’s liner note suggests that Elsa is at the heart of this LP along with three other tunes, representing the pinnacle of piano trio jazz, and it would be difficult to disagree. Evans knew how to pick a set of pieces and to play them almost to perfection, as he does here. And not just him – this is a group performance in the very best sense of the term.
On these jazz staples and ballads Evans’ piano lines are delicate, gentle, full of lyrical melody and inventive improvisation. LaFaro’s bass lines and solos are equally inventive and perfectly articulated. Motian knew just how to drive the band with restraint and accent and to keep it swinging at all times, at all tempi. This selection of jazz staples and ballads represents an ideal programme all round, played by an ideal trio. The trio was Evans’ favourite and he never equalled it, much as he tried.
This red vinyl reissue offers two bonus tracks from the same session and represents a set that should be in the collection of any enthusiast who loves piano trio jazz.
Discography
Israel; Haunted Heart; Beautiful Love; Elsa; The Boy Next Door; (20.11) – Nardis; How Deep Is The Ocean; I Wish I Knew; Sweet And Lovely; How Deep Is The Ocean (23.59)
Evans (p); Scott LaFaro (b); Paul Motian (d). NYC, 2 February 1961.
20th Century Masterworks 350263
