Back in 1959, legendary jazz pianist Bill Evans formed his famed trio with bassist Scott LaFaro, and drummer Paul Motian, presented, as critics dubbed it, a revolutionary approach to group improvisation. Now reissue specialists Craft Recordings have prepared complete studio recordings of the trio that include 17 never-before-heard tracks that capture their innovative style in its formative stages.
Titled Haunted Heart: The Legendary Riverside Studio Recordings offers a look into the creative process of this influential group. This 5-LP set will be released on November 21, 2025, mainly centered on their acclaimed albums Portrait in Jazz (1960) and Explorations (1961).
“The objective was to achieve the result in a responsible way,” Evans once said, describing their unique approach where all three musicians performed as equals – a radical departure from the conventional roles in jazz trios of the time. John Densmore of The Doors recalls “sneaking into Shelly’s Manne-Hole as a teenager to catch the trio’s brilliance.”
In his liner notes, Eugene Holley Jr. describes it as “a sound that would change modern music forever.” The collection includes rare outtakes that showcase the trio’s evolution.
