Déjà Vu is a reissue of a disc originally released in 1995 as The Trio, featuring
Orrin Evans on piano, Matthew Parrish on bass, and
Byron Landham on drums. Great playing abounds on this early session. Its interest is heightened by the appearance of several pieces that
Evans would go on to record on his later Criss Cross albums: "Explain It to Me," "Dorm Life," "Big Jimmy," and
Monk's "Rhythm-a-Ning." The opening "I Want to Be Happy," played in a straight-ahead, lilting 3/4, is quite different from the daring treatment the standard would receive five or so years later on
Evans'
Listen to the Band. Previously unheard
Evans originals also appear, such as "Monroe" and "5-4-94," the latter a solo piano feature. The showstopper is an extended, medium-swing reading of
Cole Porter's "I Love You." Now that
Evans has established himself as a pianist to be reckoned with,
Déjà Vu provides a timely look back.