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— The Analog Vault // Essential Listening —

This sublime collaboration between two of American jazz’s most renowned talents - pianist Bill Evans and guitarist Jim Hall - was improvisational perfection. Undercurrent, released in 1962, featured these two greats in flawless, effortless musical communion - using their singular talents to craft ballads, waltzes, and chamber jazz of divine beauty. 

Despite being composed of just a piano and guitar, the quiet beauty and grace that Undercurrent evokes is monumental. Spare and fragile, yet focused and centred, the ease with which Evans and Hall telepathically pirouette around one another’s musical instruments and intuitions was nothing short of inspiring to . From the intricate syncopation of "My Funny Valentine" to the chordal sadness of “Romain” - Undercurrent gently submerges you in its deep, tranquil waters. — The Analog Vault

Jim Hall And Bill Evans get introspective on Undercurrent. A gorgeous 1962 jazz classic mastered on Mobile Fidelity's world-renowned mastering system and pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing.

Bill Evans catapulted to the top of the jazz world in June 1961 after reeling off three straight masterpiece sessions at New York's Village Vanguard with his trio. Yet the emotional highs came to a screeching halt shortly thereafter when bassist Scott LaFaro died in a car accident. Devastated, Evans refrained from playing for nearly a year. If not for an inspirational collaboration of tremendous creative outpouring, one wonders what fate may have befallen Evans. Undercurrent, the outcome of two studio sessions with guitarist Jim Hall, is that project. The collaborations are often exquisite - both Evans and Hall had introspective and harmonically advanced styles along with roots in hard-swinging bebop. There is more variety than expected on the fine set with some ballads, waltzes, and even some hints at classical music. The front cover image was taken from Toni Frissell's photograph "Weeki Wachee Spring, Florida". The album was originally released on United Artists, then reissued by Solid State in 1968. Later, the album was reissued on the Blue Note label; both Blue Note and United Artists Records have been part of the same catalog for many decades. — (via Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab)
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1/4" / 15 IPS Dolby A analog copy to analog console to lathe.
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Label: Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, Blue Note
Series: Silver Label Vinyl Series
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Special Edition, Stereo, Gatefold, 180 gram
Released: 2023 / Original Release: 1962
Genre: Jazz
Style: Piano, Guitar, Cool Jazz

File under: Audiophile Jazz, TAV Essential Listening
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