Other than four piano solos from April 4, 1962, this set was pianist
Bill Evans
' first recordings after a hiatus caused by bassist
Scott LaFaro
's tragic death in a car accident. The first of two meetings on record in a duo format with guitarist
Jim Hall
, the collaborations are often exquisite. Both
Evans
and
Hall
had introspective and harmonically advanced styles along with roots in hard-swinging
bebop
. There is more variety than expected on the fine set with some cookers,
ballads
,
waltzes
, and even some hints at
classical
music. Recommended. [Some reissues include four bonus tracks, including two alternate takes and previously unheard versions of "Stairway to the Stars" and "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You."] ~ Scott Yanow