Undercurrent has long been considered one of the classic piano/guitar duo sessions, pairing
Bill Evans with
Jim Hall. These studio dates were a jump start for
Evans' career, which he had placed on hold after the unexpected death of his bassist,
Scott LaFaro, a few days following their historic
Village Vanguard recordings were made. First reissued on CD in 1988, this 2002 edition features the same music, but remixed with gorgeous 24-bit sound and the songs re-sequenced into their original LP configuration, with the alternate takes and initially unissued tracks following them. An added bonus is the removal of the graphics from the striking cover photo, as well as the inclusion of a photo of
Evans and
Hall taken at one of the two sessions. The seamless way they swap between lead and supporting roles throughout gems such as the
waltz-time
"Skating in Central Park" adds to the overall appeal of the disc. Though the master take of
"My Funny Valentine" has a smoother introduction, the alternate has more intriguing interplay between the two men. The other selections are every bit as masterful. Although
Evans and
Hall would later do a follow-up duo session for
Verve, this memorable CD is the one to acquire first. ~ Ken Dryden
