Bill Evans' death in 1980 ended the career of the most influential (along with
McCoy Tyner) acoustic pianist in jazz of the previous 20 years. This second of two LPs features
Evans, bassist
Marc Johnson, and drummer
Joe La Barbera closely interacting on four of the pianist's originals,
Gary McFarland's "Gary's Theme" and
Miles Davis' "Nardis." The music is sensitive and subtly exciting. Until the release of some later live sessions from 1980, this could be considered
Bill Evans' final recording and serves as evidence that, rather than declining, he was showing a renewed vitality and enthusiasm in his last year. ~ Scott Yanow