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Product Description
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If Bill Evans brought a kind of muted, ingeniously subtle body of innovations to jazz piano, then perhaps his only parallel in the realm of jazz guitar is Jim Hall. But for all their advances on their instruments, neither Evans nor Hall ever made themselves sound forbidding. And when they joined forces for this session, they sounded fantastically in-step and interwoven, with piano and jazz falling together into a pool of streaming improvisation on mostly slow-tempo pieces. Evans's sense of time and chord placement gets continual book-ends from Hall, who places his diaphanous strums in just the right places to not brook Evans's creative flow but rather to join in it and play almost alchemically. These are calm pieces, maybe too calm considering the constant turbulence in Evans's life. But the pair hit such a high mark with this recording that it reaches the intellect and the emotions at precisely the same instant. Quite a feat. --Andrew Bartlett
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
61 of 61 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The partnership of Evans and Hall as an unaccompanied duo was an inspired one which produced two albums - this first one and the follow-up, Intermodulation. The two artists had much in common. For example, both were concerned to produce music which had beauty, and even refinement, of sound with no lack of musical substance. Both liked to play quietly, with an emphasis on subtlety and understatement, although they could also 'swing' infectiously at almost any tempo. Both also had years of experience as sidemen or accompanists in other people's groups and this made them particularly sensitive listeners, able to respond to and interact creatively with other soloists.
You can hear that kind of sensitivity and subtle interplay throughout this album, most obviously on the slower pieces but also on the fastest track, the original take of 'My Funny Valentine'. Listen especially to the way in which Hall's guitar fills in behind Evans's statement of the theme and then provides a driving rhythm under the pianist's improvisation.
My favourite track is Hall's 'Romain', a moody, rather sombre theme which inspires the most intense and emotive playing on the album. It has some particularly haunting interplay between the players and displays the 'singing' qualities they could draw out of their instruments, especially at the magical point where Hall's solo leads into Evans's. It's good to have the bonus of an alternate take of this number on the CD edition.
Undercurrent was always a rather special album; but it is superior as a CD, first because of its enhanced sound quality and the quiet background which this intimate, concentrated music needs, secondly because the bonus tracks on the CD provide the 'added value' of quality as well as quantity. The programme originally consisted, rather oddly, of five slow tempo tracks with one fast one. The addition of the mid-tempo swinger, 'Getting Sentimental Over You' and an alternate take of 'My Funny Valentine' creates a better balanced album, although an extra slow ballad from the session, 'Stairway to the Stars', is well worth having too.
It's an album which you can play, if you like, as a piece of chilled out background music which won't disturb the cat; but there's a lot going on under its polished surface to make it music to listen to, and to return to again and again.
You can hear that kind of sensitivity and subtle interplay throughout this album, most obviously on the slower pieces but also on the fastest track, the original take of 'My Funny Valentine'. Listen especially to the way in which Hall's guitar fills in behind Evans's statement of the theme and then provides a driving rhythm under the pianist's improvisation.
My favourite track is Hall's 'Romain', a moody, rather sombre theme which inspires the most intense and emotive playing on the album. It has some particularly haunting interplay between the players and displays the 'singing' qualities they could draw out of their instruments, especially at the magical point where Hall's solo leads into Evans's. It's good to have the bonus of an alternate take of this number on the CD edition.
Undercurrent was always a rather special album; but it is superior as a CD, first because of its enhanced sound quality and the quiet background which this intimate, concentrated music needs, secondly because the bonus tracks on the CD provide the 'added value' of quality as well as quantity. The programme originally consisted, rather oddly, of five slow tempo tracks with one fast one. The addition of the mid-tempo swinger, 'Getting Sentimental Over You' and an alternate take of 'My Funny Valentine' creates a better balanced album, although an extra slow ballad from the session, 'Stairway to the Stars', is well worth having too.
It's an album which you can play, if you like, as a piece of chilled out background music which won't disturb the cat; but there's a lot going on under its polished surface to make it music to listen to, and to return to again and again.
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is the first of two superb albums recorded by legendary jazz pianist Bill Evans, and one of my favorite jazz guitarists Jim Hall, and it was recorded over two sessions in April and May 1962. Arrangements simply for piano and guitar are rare in Jazz, and it is even more seldom that the results are truly inspiring and as musically worthwhile as in this case. It is usual for intuitive musical relationships to develop over a number of years, but here we find two musicians who clearly shared an immediate understanding.
Both men are on absolute top form here - Bill Evans was on fire throughout the early and mid sixties, and after the tragic death of his previous musical partner, virtuoso bass player Scott Le Faro (at the age of 23), he was searching for new directions. Jim Hall is a guitarist of tremendous skill and powerful technique, with a highly developed rhythmic and harmonic sense that shines through on this album. What is so special about the performances here is an almost telepathic anticipation of where the music is heading - both musicians
contribute equally, and there is a constant exchange of ideas, each reacting to the other with apparent ease, whatever the mood.
This is a brilliant jazz album, of great depth and tremendous atmosphere, and both players express some exceptional ideas. Highly recommended, and if this is your first experience of either of these incredible musicians, be warned! - It won't be your last. Do yourself a big favour and buy it today.
16 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
At the time of writing, my knowledge of jazz is sporadic at best. I am slowly building up my jazz collection, which includes classics from Coltrane, Miles Davis, Mingus, Adderley and others. I think I can safely say, though, that UNDERCURRENT is the current "hot ticket" out of all my jazz discs.
The execution of these tunes couldn't be more minimal - just Evans' piano and Hall's guitar vibing off each other. The results could not be more perfect. Hall picks away effortlessly at his strings, making the guitar murmur softly one moment then chug away rhythmically the next. Evans' piano is lyrical and sublime - I've never heard such charismatic ivory tickling! I was chilling to this disc the other day, nodding my head to this oh-so-natural music and wishing I had half of Evans' talent.
My favourite pieces at the moment are Evans' own composition "Romain", which is an extraordinarily melancholy piece of NY bedsit music. I also love "Skating In Central Park" which sways along with gently caressed piano chords and a delightfully subdued guitar lead. This album never misses a beat though, to be honest. Even though it only features two instruments for the whole duration, it never ever becomes one-dimensional or repetetive. There's always a surprise round the corner!
This music is perfect to unwind to after a tough day. It is perfect to have on in the kitchen while cookin' up a feast. It is perfect to listen to in the company of a loved one. It is perfect to foot-tap to while supping on glass of scotch.
Did I mention that it's perfect?
The execution of these tunes couldn't be more minimal - just Evans' piano and Hall's guitar vibing off each other. The results could not be more perfect. Hall picks away effortlessly at his strings, making the guitar murmur softly one moment then chug away rhythmically the next. Evans' piano is lyrical and sublime - I've never heard such charismatic ivory tickling! I was chilling to this disc the other day, nodding my head to this oh-so-natural music and wishing I had half of Evans' talent.
My favourite pieces at the moment are Evans' own composition "Romain", which is an extraordinarily melancholy piece of NY bedsit music. I also love "Skating In Central Park" which sways along with gently caressed piano chords and a delightfully subdued guitar lead. This album never misses a beat though, to be honest. Even though it only features two instruments for the whole duration, it never ever becomes one-dimensional or repetetive. There's always a surprise round the corner!
This music is perfect to unwind to after a tough day. It is perfect to have on in the kitchen while cookin' up a feast. It is perfect to listen to in the company of a loved one. It is perfect to foot-tap to while supping on glass of scotch.
Did I mention that it's perfect?
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
MELLOW JAZZ
BILL EVANS AND JIM HALL FIT TOGETHER LIKE A GLOVE THIS IS COOL LATE NIGHT MUSIC
GREAT IMPROVISING. LOVED THEIR TAKE ON MY FUNNY VALENTINE
GREAT IMPROVISING. LOVED THEIR TAKE ON MY FUNNY VALENTINE
Published 12 months ago by Mr. Aa James
Lovely Album
This is an excellent album which I have added to my Bill Evans collection. Album was as described and delivery was prompt.
Published 14 months ago by pjl
Archetypal Evans...
It gets all the stars because is is a great modern jazz album performed as only the late, lamented Mr Evans could arrange and do. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Mr. J. H. Wheeler
unmissable
I bought the original album many years ago and it has always been one of my favourites. If you enjoy listening to gentle tuneful jazz this is the one for you. It is awsome! JR.
Published 23 months ago by John S. Roff
DESERT ISLAND DISK.
The alternate tracks provide the evidence: this is spontanious music of the highest order.
Published on 20 Mar 2001
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