1990 · Album
Bill Evans
Recorded 1959 · Riverside Records · Produced by Orrin Keepnews
Listening to a Drummer Think About Piano
Motian plays like he's conversing with the piano, never overwhelming, always curious about what comes next.
Paul Motian made this record as a drummer thinking like a composer, which is a strange thing to say about what sounds like a straightforward trio session, but listen and you'll hear what I mean. The album is just Motian, Bill Evans, and Scott LaFaro, and it's mostly standards—"Autumn Leaves," "Peace Piece," "Funkallero." Nothing flashy about the concept. But Motian doesn't keep time the way you'd expect. He's suggesting rhythms, asking questions with his drums, leaving space for the piano and bass to breathe. Evans plays with his typical lyrical precision, but the trio feels less like a piano trio with rhythm section and more like three equal voices debating how a song should feel.
This sits early in Motian's career when he was still establishing himself, and it's worth knowing that his approach here—sparse, melodic, rhythmically unpredictable—became his signature. He wasn't interested in swinging hard. He was interested in listening. That might sound precious, but it's not. It's practical. On tracks like "Funkallero" the drums are almost dancing, reacting to LaFaro's bass with genuine surprise. Evans stays melodic and composed throughout, never showing off, never needing to. The whole thing has an intimate quality, like you've walked in on a rehearsal where everyone actually likes each other.
If you know Motian's later work—his own leader dates, his thoughtful approach to rhythm—this context helps. But you don't need history to appreciate this one. It's simply good musicians playing together without pretense. Not revolutionary, not a peak moment in any of their careers, but honest and listenable. It's the kind of album that rewards repeated listening, not because it reveals itself slowly, but because it respects your attention.
Who's playing
Marc Johnsonacoustic bass guitar
Bill Frisellelectric guitar
Joe Lovanotenor saxophone
Paul Motiandrums
Where next?
More by Paul Motian
All 14 albums →
The musicians on this record
Before We Were Born 1989
Bill Frisell
plays electric guitar here
plays electric guitar here
Landmarks 1991
Joe Lovano
plays tenor saxophone here
plays tenor saxophone here
