Explorations (Bill Evans album)
Explorations | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | End of March 1961[1] | |||
Recorded | February 2, 1961 | |||
Studio | Bell Sound (New York City) | |||
Genre | Jazz | |||
Length | 39:48 (original LP) 50:58 (1987 reissue) 60:00 (2011 reissue) | |||
Label | Riverside RLP 351 | |||
Producer | Orrin Keepnews | |||
The Bill Evans Trio chronology | ||||
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Explorations is an album by jazz pianist Bill Evans that was originally released on Riverside label in 1961. The album won the Billboard Jazz Critics Best Piano LP poll for 1961.
History
Explorations was the second album Evans recorded with his trio of Scott LaFaro on bass and Paul Motian on drums. Evans considered it one of his favorites from this period. Producer Orrin Keepnews in the liner notes talks about the two extra pieces that were released on the CD, "Beautiful Love (take 1)" and "The Boy Next Door"; the first version of "Beautiful Love" to be included in the original LP was a second take. In fact, as Keepnews specifies, "it is not the usual case of a second attempt that immediately followed the first. Early in this date, he played this number once; we both approved, and he moved on to something else. Much later, he decided to try a second 'Beautiful Love', which he later preferred." "The Boy Next Door," on the other hand, was set aside at the time of the LP, because of the limited space available on the album.
The album was remastered and reissued by Original Jazz Classics in 2011 with two previously unissued alternate takes.
Reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | [6] |
The album won the Billboard Jazz Critics Best Piano LP poll for 1961.[7]
David Rickert of
Track listing
- "Israel" (John Carisi) – 6:12
- "Haunted Heart" (Arthur Schwartz, Howard Dietz) – 3:28
- "Beautiful Love" [Take 1] (Wayne King, Egbert Van Alstyne, Victor Young) – 6:04
- "Elsa" (Earl Zindars) – 5:10
- "Nardis" (Miles Davis) – 5:49
- "How Deep Is the Ocean?" (Irving Berlin) – 3:31
- "I Wish I Knew" (Harry Warren, Mack Gordon) – 4:39
- "Sweet and Lovely" (Gus Arnheim, Jules LeMare, Harry Tobias) – 5:52
2011 CD reissue
- "Israel"
- "Haunted Heart"
- "Beautiful Love" [Take 2]
- "Elsa"
- "Nardis"
- "How Deep Is the Ocean?"
- "I Wish I Knew" (Harry Warren)
- "Sweet and Lovely"
- "The Boy Next Door" (Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane)
- "Beautiful Love" [Take 1]
- "How Deep Is the Ocean?" [Take 2]
- "I Wish I Knew" [Take 2]
Personnel
- Bill Evans - piano
- Scott LaFaro - bass
- Paul Motian - drums
Additional personnel
- Orrin Keepnews - producer
- Bill Stoddard - engineer
- Jack Matthews - mastering engineer
References
- ^ "Jazz LP's", Billboard, March 27, 1961.
- ^ a b Rickert, David. "Explorations > Review". All About Jazz. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
- ^ Allmusic. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
- ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
- ISBN 978-0195313734.
- ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
- ISSN 0006-2510.
Further reading
- Pettinger, Peter (1998). Bill Evans: How My Heart Sings. ISBN 0-300-07193-0.