Customer Reviews

Evolution II

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought both Evolution I and II and listened to I a few times before II. Evolution I is austere, more difficult (and perhaps more rewarding). By comparison, the trio format of EII makes it swing; it is "easy on the ears." There is plenty of subtlety and complex innovation in EII. Lots of humor. Numerous quotations.Never repetitive, always surprising. After hearing EI I realized that Lewis' style is more than spare, it is almost staccato, but in EII the trio, especially the bass, unites his expressions so he seems more smooth than he really is. His re-make of Django is just amazing, although Milt Jackson is still in it (in my head). The sound quality is not up to perfection: Several notes have fuzz on them, though it is not a serious problem overall.

The genius of this album is John Lewis' spare, economical, yet thorough playing. There are no extended riffs or flourishes, just the compositions as written, no more and no less. It is this economy of playing that makes this album truly unique and enjoyable. I own many piano jazz CD's, but certainly nothing with playing such as this!

80 years old john lewis gave us two great records in a few months.Evolution I is for sure a treasury of jazz piano;and even if Evolution II doesn't reach the stratospheric level of volume 1,there are few of piano players who gave us such perfect and swinging music to listen to.Of course,the guitars of Howard Alden and Howard Collins are very sober; but there are great versions of classics like "Trieste","Django","Parker's mood" and great blues playing on "Cain and Abel".This session is easier to listen to than Evolution I,but there is magnificent piano playing here.If one of your favorite valours in music is the art of silence and economy,you'll treasure this record.

All that I said for the predecessor of this album goes double for the successor. This is music absolutely unique and irreplaceable for its understated simplicity. If you're a pianist, you no doubt will be able to account for every note that Lewis plays in both hands yet be ceasely surprised at his inventiveness. Not a note is wasted. There are no fills and frills, no alternate harmonies and voicings, no melodic side trips. The pianist simply lays bare and anatomizes each of the songs, erasing the line between performance and composition.

That fact that he is able to employ such virtuosic musicians this time to such purely supportive ends, using them as mere extensions of his instrument and musical genius, is all the more remarkable.

Far from "pleasant" music, this is disciplined, minimalist art of the highest order. It may please even the casual listener but it will repay many times over the concentration of the serious one.

I think this is the final recording by the late great John Lewis, one of the most urbane and sophisticated people that jazz has produced. He had an illustrious career, the most significant part of which was as a member of the Modern Jazz Quartet.

At the other end of the spectrum to the great Art Tatum, no other pianist in the history of jazz could say as much with 'one finger' playing - one listens to its simplicity and is in constant awe at the pleasure he is capable of giving. This final (?) album shows no sign of decline in either his technique or ability to hold one's attention.

On this session (unlike his penultimate album which was solo) he is accompanied by a choice of two guitarists and bass players, but the same drummer throughout. All the accompanying musicians, although new to me, support Lewis admirably. All but two of the ten tracks are original compositions (he was quite a composer too!)

The whole album is superb and merits five stars, but I am afraid it is almost mandatory to remove one star due to a play time of less than 53 minutes. The CD capacity of nearly eighty minutes really makes this kind of duration a bit stingy and it is also sad to say that this is more typical of the jazz world than other genres. (I exclude 2 on 1 and 3 on 2 reissues from this observation).

However, enough bitching - a great swansong for a great artist.

Greatly musical. Not as riveting as E1, but the great essence of music is still there. Look forward to next release. Keep up the good work JL, we need the continuity.