One of our favorite albums ever from Bill Evans – an amazing session of Fender Rhodes material that's quite different than most of his other work! The sound here is incredibly gentle – Bill barely hitting the keys of the Rhodes to send out spare, shimmering notes amidst larger arrangements from Michael Leonard – a talent we hardly know at all, but who fits Evans' piano with a great deal of sensitivity for the set. There's some wonderful tones and colors on each number here – and Eddie Gomez also helps to flesh out the sound a little bit with his basswork, providing those slow pulses of low tones that have a very subtle approach to rhythm. Titles include an amazing version of Luiz Eca's classic "The Dolphin" – plus "Soiree", "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?", "Children's Play Song", "I'm All Smiles", and "Lullaby For Helene". LP, Vinyl record album

One of our favorite albums ever from Bill Evans – an amazing session of Fender Rhodes material that's quite different than most of his other work! The sound here is incredibly gentle – Bill barely hitting the keys of the Rhodes to send out spare, shimmering notes amidst larger arrangements from Michael Leonard – a talent we hardly know at all, but who fits Evans' piano with a great deal of sensitivity for the set. There's some wonderful tones and colors on each number here – and Eddie Gomez also helps to flesh out the sound a little bit with his basswork, providing those slow pulses of low tones that have a very subtle approach to rhythm. Titles include an amazing version of Luiz Eca's classic "The Dolphin" – plus "Soiree", "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?", "Children's Play Song", "I'm All Smiles", and "Lullaby For Helene". CD features 4 bonus tracks too – alternate takes on titles in the album. CD

A really fantastic trio outing from pianist Fred Hersch – working here in a fluid style that really makes the album a standout classic in his career, thanks in part to superb work on bass from Steve La Spina, alongside drums from Jeff Hirschfield! La Spina has this round, warm tone that really complements Fred's piano lines – and the group choose some material that really allows them to show off their strengths in all the best ways – on titles that include Frank Foster's "Simone", Wayne Shorter's "Black Nile", Miles Davis' "All Blues", and a great take on the classic "The Dolphin", penned by Luiz Eca of the Tamba Trio! CD features two bonus tracks – "Unit Seven" and "Sometime Ago". CD

This bossa LP on Columbia is pretty good stuff! The record was recorded with some of Brazil's best bossa players – like Luiz Bonfa, Roberto Menescal, and Luiz Eca (of Tamba Trio fame). John Hammond produced the session, so you can be sure it's got the kind of rootsy sound that will make the tracks have a bit more kick than if the album was in the hands of a regular pop-bossa producer. Titles include "Avion", "Reza", "Vagamente", "Ela E Carioca", "Zomba", and "Alem Da Imaginacao". CD

The American issue of the third Zimbo Trio album from Brazil – presented here with the misleading "restrained" in the title – as the record is filled with bossa grooves! The album's third in a line of legendary bossa albums recorded by the Zimbo Trio in the 60s – and a set that's slightly more lyrical and contemplative than the first two! The record's still filled with plenty of full-on bossa groovers, but it's also got a nicely more spacious sense of sound overall – a quality that almost echoes some of the pianistic conceptions of Luiz Eca, as well as the drum and bass work of his partners in the Tamba Trio – but without the vocals, of course! There's a great sense of sensitivity here, without ever sounding too sleepy – and titles include "Samba Do Veloso", "Agua De Beber", "Pra Viver Feliz", "Favela", "Bocoxe", and "Kao, Xango". (Brazil, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album