This release presents the complete original Bill Evans album Interplay (Riverside RLP9445). The dates showcased the pianist with a number of great players, trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, bassist Percy Heath, and drummer Philly Joe Jones. As the original producer Orrin Keepnews stated, Evans’ first trumpet choice had been Art Farmer, who was unavailable (in addition to collaborations on other projects as sidemen with big bands, they had recorded the superb quintet album Modern Art together in 1958). Evans and Freddie Hubbard had both participated on Oliver Nelson’s wonderful 1961 LP The Blues and the Abstract Truth, and in April of 1962 they would both play on the Benny Golson LP Pop + Jazz = Swing. Interplay marked their third and final recorded collaboration.

BILL EVANS, piano FREDDIE HUBBARD, trumpet JIM HALL, guitar PERCY HEATH, bass PHILLY JOE JONES, drums New York, July 16 (A1-A2 & B2-B3) & July 17 (A3, B1 & B4), 1962. Original sessions produced by Orrin Keepnews.