Record Reviews

BILL EVANS ~ HAUNTED HEART: THE LEGENDARY RIVERSIDE STUDIO RECORDINGS CRAFT 888072682108 (Barcode: 888072682108) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1959 - 1961 Released: 2025 This is an expanded and remastered reissue of the legendary recordings by American pianist / composer / bandleader Bill EvansFind albums by this artist, with his trio, which included bassist Scott LaFaroFind albums by this artist and drummer Paul MotianFind albums by this artist. It presents the two iconic albums recorded originally for RiversideFind albums on this label Records: “Portrait In JazzFind albums with this title” from 1959 and “ExplorationsFind albums with this title” from 1961. The 3CD Box Set presents the two original albums and no less than nine alternate takes from the “Portrait In Jazz” sessions and seventeen alternate takes from the “Explorations” sessions, most of which are previously unreleased. The sound quality is perfect, but the enclosed booklets provide a rather modest background information, essays and photographs. For Jazz enthusiast, this album is nothing short of a Holy Grail, as it offers a massive amount of previously unheard Evans’ magic, LaFaro’s sublime technique and virtuosity and the extraordinary rapport and telepathic communication between the two. Since these where the only two studio albums recorded by Evans with LaFaro, their importance to the Jazz legacy is basically unmeasurable, beyond of course being insanely beautiful. The only other recorded material by this trio was recorded live at the Village Vanguard, just ten days before LaFaro’s tragic death. This trio’s recordings are often referred to as the “definitive” Jazz piano trio recordings, which of course might be somewhat exaggerated statement, but these are epic moments, which outline the classic Jazz approach and the relationships between the trio members, which prior to these recordings considered the rhythm section’s role as completely secondary, as opposed to what is heard herein. Overall, this is of course an absolute magic, with every note, every nuance, every touch of the keyboard and the strings being always just absolutely right where it was supposed to be. It does not matter how many Bill Evans’ albums you already have in your collection, you must have this album as well, there is simply no other option!

Updated: 18/02/2026Posted: 18/02/2026

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THELONIOUS MONK ~ THE COMPLETE RIVERSIDE RECORDINGS RIVERSIDE 888072360020 (Barcode: 888072360020) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1955 - 1961 Released: 2014 This magnificent Box Set compiles all the recordings by American Jazz pianist / composer / Prophet Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist made between 1955 and 1961 for the independent American RiversideFind albums on this label Records label, co-owned and led by the legendary record producer Orrin KeepnewsFind albums by this artist, who sadly died in March 2015. The fifteen CDs included in this Box Set contain some of the most important Jazz music ever recorded, by one of the greatest and most idiosyncratic figures on the American music scene. The music is arranged chronologically and includes thirty recording sessions with music ranging from solo piano performances to ensemble pieces, starring the crème de la crème of American Jazz musicians of the 1950s, including John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, Coleman HawkinsFind albums by this artist, Sonny RollinsFind albums by this artist and many others. Although usually associated with Bebop as one of its founding figures, Monk never really played Bebop as such and the association is mostly coincidental, since he started his career when Bebop erupted. In fact Monk always played only Monk, and that was it. His absolutely unique sense of rhythm (or rather the lack of it as we know it) and his weirdly twisted melody lines were his trademark and usually just a few notes are enough to identify him as a player. Riverside was Monk´s second label after his stint with Blue Note and before moving to Columbia, and it proved to be the most creative as far as his composing career is concerned. Except for a few standards played on the early Riverside sessions, most of the music in this Box Set comprises of Monk´s originals, which are all absolutely marvelous. The importance of Monk´s contribution to Jazz is of course his complete disregard of the "norm" and the consistent approach of following his own path. His music always sounded like nothing else around him and the musicians playing with him had to forget almost everything they knew about melody, harmony and rhythm and simply follow his lead. It´s hardly surprising that he was considered "difficult" and "noncooperative" by many people around him, which was intensified by his erratic personal behavior, but of course this is a problem with many extraordinary people. Sadly in Monk´s case his mental state deteriorated relatively early and he disappeared from the active musical life by early 1970s (he died in 1982), following his last appearances during the worldwide tour with the Giants Of Jazz, which I was lucky to hear live at the time. Therefore these sessions are even more invaluable, as they represent a large portion of his relatively short overall recording career. Every note played on these CDs is absolutely priceless and I can´t imagine any serious Jazz record collection not including this music in one form or another. This Box Set is the most comprehensive and the cheapest option to have it in your possession.

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: 29/12/2015

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THELONIOUS MONK ~ COMPLETE COLUMBIA STUDIO ALBUMS COLLECTION SONY 886979576827 (Barcode: 886979576827) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1962 - 1968 Released: 2012 Although most often associated with the Bebop genre, American pianist / composer Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist was in fact one of the very few Jazz icons, that managed to create a completely personal style, unlike any another before or after. His playing and his compositions were absolutely outrageous, unconventional and plainly weird. Strange chord changes, aggressive attack, long out of nowhere glissandos and those unexpected pauses in the most unexpected places created a musical experience, which logically made no sense whatsoever but in practice sounded most wonderfully. As many other human geniuses, he is therefore often suspected of being an alien stranded on our pitiful planet. Monk started to record in the mid-1940s as part of the Bebop explosion and over the years worked with Blue NoteFind albums on this label, PrestigeFind albums on this label and RiversideFind albums on this label labels, but his last, longest and most stable and productive period was spent with ColumbiaFind albums on this label records in the 1960s, when these albums were originally recorded. These are the quartet recordings, made with his quartet, which lasted for eleven years and was his preferential vehicle. It included the saxophonist Charlie RouseFind albums by this artist, who was the quartet´s member for that entire duration, bassist John OreFind albums by this artist and later Butch WarrenFind albums by this artist and Larry GalesFind albums by this artist and drummer Frankie DunlopFind albums by this artist and later Ben RileyFind albums by this artist. The music on these albums is a mixture of Monk originals (the majority of the material), some of which were previously recorded on other labels, and his treatment of standards, which of course are often quite remote from the origin. The playing is absolutely stunning, not only by Monk but also by Rouse, who surely deserves the title of the most underrated saxophonist in Jazz history. The quartet format was best serving Monk´s idiosyncratic style and manner, but he also recorded in other formats, like piano solo. Some of his remarkable live performances were also released on Columbia and hopefully all that material will be released in the future as part of the Box Set series. These six albums, remastered and expanded with numerous bonus tracks and accompanied by informative liner notes constitute some of the most important Jazz music ever recorded, which gets better with time and penetrates deeper every time it is listened to. There is no way and serious Jazz buff can afford not having this in his collection; that would be simply sacrilegious. And next time you open your door to a small green humanoid with a couple of antennas on his head, just play him some Monk; he´ll surely dig it!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

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