Bill Evans: “Explorations” (1961) Riverside/UK

Updated: January  6, 2022  Interdisk/ US original metal.

Selection:  Israel (John Carisi)

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Despite repeated plays I am still looking in vain for the same tune.

It always impresses me when musicians, on hearing a band playing jazz, just reel off the song credit “Oh that’s so and so”. I only know that because the band leader introduced it over the PA.

Jazz critic Roger Cook remarks that LaFaro and Evans had an argument just before the recording session for Explorations, resulting in a degree of “brittleness”. I’d never have known that either. Sometimes you can have too much information. Does your enjoyment of the performance need such a “spoiler”, so you listen looking for the faults? What if they played better than everyone else even when engaged in “tension”?

Vinyl: Riverside RLP 12-351 UK Interdisc

Riverside pressings characteristically offer very wide dynamic and tonal range and this is no exception, with LaFaro’s bass filling the room, and Motian’s sympathetic brushwork crisp and graceful .

Hand inscribed catalogue number instead of the expected Decca or Philips machine stamped matrix. This is not normal for Riverside/Interdisc. Contracted out to a third party? Odd. (see update)

(UPDATE January 6, 2022 – It has come to light in recent months that Decca/Riverside/Interdisk sometimes used original US metal for the Interdisk pressing, and not the usual local remastering from copy tape.   The hand-inscribed matrix matches the US original edition, etched into the lacquer.  So you get a quality UK pressing that is effectively sonically identical to the US original, but often in better condition at a much lower price. Who knew?

Collector’s Corner

I think one of the reasons  copies of Evan’s records in excellent condition command such high prices is that such a condition is rare –  this music demands and repays repeated listening. Certainly this copy is well worn, but it would be a hard soul that bought this record and played it only once. The cover is a little dog-eared from constant use as a much-loved record, but I don’t have a problem with that either.

I have little sympathy for collectors who demand “virgin”  copies, still sealed, to add to their vault of unplayed trophies. The dividend of ownership should be the pleasure of listening, not capital appreciation, but I guess people collect for different reasons.