Triessence consists of a trio of British musicians, including tenor saxophonist Mark Allaway, pianist Nick Tomalin and bassist Dominic Howles. Together they chose eleven works by the late great pianist/composer Bill Evans, mixing in some familiar works with infrequently recorded numbers and at least one ("Catch the Wind," though "C Minor Blues Chase" also doesn't seem to be represented in his discography) that Evans never recorded. Although they must be familiar with the composer's recordings, there is no attempt to re-create his approaches to any of them. Evans' fans will enjoy their fresh interpretations of the melancholy "Peace Piece" (which evolved from Leonard Bernstein's "Some Other Time," the sentimental ballad for his young son "Letter to Evan" (who has gone on to become a successful composer in his own right) and the sassy "Funkallero." This enjoyable CD is available from the Swiss label Zah Zah. ~ Ken Dryden
