Album: Portrait in Jazz

Every Sunday I like to get out of bed and start my day with #JazzSundays on vinyl.

The world of Jazz is amazing to me because of several things:

1. Jazz is so very vast
2. Jazz can be so challenging on the ears
3. Jazz can be so pleasant on the ears
4. Jazz players were the original rock stars
5. Jazz keeps me happy when everything else starts to bore

I was first introduced to it by my guitar teacher when I was 13. His name is Mike Nielsen and he is a legend of the Irish jazz scene. I vividly remember him showing me the first copy of a Chet Baker album that I had ever scene. He was picking it out by ear to learn for a gig and I will review it another time. It was called Chet.

After that, I remember him giving me a tape of Decoy by Miles Davis (vinyl review to come on that album and the greatest bass line in my history). The B side was Pat Metheny.

Within all this introduction I tended to ignore the piano for the sake of Guitar or Horns.

Then I came across a copy of Sunday at the Village Vanguard by the Bill Evans Trio. That, in turn, opened me up to going to the Village Vanguard any Sunday I can if in New York. The history of the venue, particularly for black artists and how they were treated, along the incredible work of Bill Evans’s music has lead me to hear some of the best live Jazz ever. I’ll be doing a review of some Jazz clubs another time.

Despite his schoolboy appearance, Bill Evans was a wild and tragic figure. Addiction got him in the end but not before he left a legacy of incredible Jazz piano.

To me he plays like he barely touches the keys, it’s more like the keys touch him.

I was introduced to Bill Evans on vinyl by a store assistant in Cosmos Records in Toronto. I wasn’t sure what to buy and was only beginning my vinyl collectors adventure. He walked up to me and said “surely you want a Japanese pressing of Portrait in Jazz by Bill Evans?” and pulled the classic store assistant “what!? you don’t own this??” move on me that I just had to buy it and I am forever grateful.

The musicians in the trio are:

• Bill Evans – piano
• Scott LaFaro – bass
• Paul Motian – drums

Here’s a terrible canned review from Chat GPT just to show what the world of reviews could become if we don’t all stick together:

“Portrait in Jazz” by Bill Evans is a timeless masterpiece that exemplifies the pianist’s unparalleled artistry and innovative approach to jazz. Released in 1960, the album showcases Evans’ exceptional trio, featuring the sublime interplay with bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian. The chemistry among the trio members is palpable, creating a musical dialogue that is both intricate and intuitive. Evans’ delicate touch and emotive phrasing shine throughout the album, particularly on tracks like “Waltz for Debby” and “Blue in Green.” The album not only solidifies Bill Evans as a visionary pianist but also cements his influence on the evolution of jazz, making “Portrait in Jazz” a seminal and essential recording in the genre’s history.

Track Listing