1970 · Album
Montreux II
Recorded 1970, Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland · CTI · Produced by Creed Taylor
Three Voices Under Lake Geneva Skies
Recorded live at Montreux, Evans and his trio find a loose, searching intimacy amid the festival crowd.
Montreux II was recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland in 1970, with Bill Evans at the piano, Eddie Gomez on bass and Marty Morell on drums. It is a live document of a working trio on the road, and the festival setting gives it a looser shape than the studio records the group made together. The sound is the first thing a listener notices, and not in a flattering way: AllMusic reviewer Ken Dryden pointed out bleed from the stage monitors into the mix and some muddy passages, and those problems are audible throughout.
What survives those issues is the playing. Evans is attentive and unhurried, leaving space for Gomez to move and for Morell to push things forward when the music needs it. The interplay is conversational rather than showy, and the trio seems more interested in listening to each other than in making a statement. The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings gave the album 3 out of 4 stars, which fits: this is a strong, enjoyable performance that rewards committed listeners more than casual ones.
As a companion to the earlier Montreux recording, Montreux II is best approached by fans already familiar with Evans' trio work. It is not the place to start with him. Those who want a cleaner live document should begin with the earlier concert set, but for listeners who already know the trio, this one offers another evening of the same musicians working in front of an audience.
Who's playing
