Portrait in Jazz


Portrait in Jazz is an album by American jazz pianist Bill Evans, released in 1960.

History

Eight months after his successful collaboration with Miles Davis on the album Kind of Blue, Evans recorded Portrait in Jazz with a new group that helped change the direction of modern jazz.
Most noticeably, LaFaro's bass is promoted from a mere accompanying instrument to one of almost equal status to the piano. It is one of Evans' more up-tempo and swinging albums.

Reception

Reviewing it for Allmusic, music critic Scott Yanow wrote of the album: "... the influential interpretations were far from routine or predictable at the time. LaFaro and Motian were nearly equal partners with the pianist in the ensembles... A gem." Danny Eccleston of Mojo wrote: "Portrait In Jazz - Evans' fifth record as a band leader - gets you every which way. At its least great, it is merely brilliant... But what makes Evans extra-extra-special is the way his playing drags you in and shares the vulnerability at its core. Oh, the humanity!"

Track listing

  1. "Come Rain or Come Shine" – 3:24
  2. "Autumn Leaves" – 6:00
  3. "Witchcraft" – 4:37
  4. "When I Fall in Love" – 4:57
  5. "Peri's Scope" – 3:15
  6. "What Is This Thing Called Love?" – 4:36
  7. "Spring Is Here" – 5:09
  8. "Someday My Prince Will Come" – 4:57
  9. "Blue in Green" – 5:25
Bonus tracks on CD reissue:
  2. "Come Rain or Come Shine" - 3:23
  3. "Autumn Leaves" - 5:25
  4. "Blue in Green" – 4:39
  5. "Blue in Green" – 4:26

    Personnel