Los Angeles, CA (September 4, 2025)—In 1959, trailblazing pianist Bill Evans assembled one of the greatest trios in jazz history, thanks to the intuitive artistry of bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian.Over the next year and a half, they would establish a groundbreaking and highly influential improvisational style that challenged the status quo and shifted the genre’s landscape.While their time together was heartbreakingly brief, they left behind two live albums and two seminal studio albums that continue to inspire musicians to this day.Now, Craft Recordings honours this inimitable trio through Haunted Heart: The Legendary Riverside Studio Recordings—a brand new collection that, for the very first time, collects the complete recording studio output by Evans’ “Classic Trio.” Anchoring this 5-LP, 180-gram vinyl collection (also available in a 3-CD set and standard/hi-res digital) are the trio’s two acclaimed original studio albums, Portrait in Jazz (1960) and Explorations (1961), both of which benefit from meticulous audio restoration by Plangent Processes.Three additional LPs feature 26 breathtaking alternate takes and outtakes from these famed sessions—17 of which have never been released—offering rare insight into the trio’s innovative creative process.The collection was produced by Nick Phillips and mastered by GRAMMY® Award-winning engineer Paul Blakemore, with lacquers cut for the vinyl edition by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio.The beautifully packaged vinyl edition comes with rare photos and a fold-out poster insert, featuring new original art on one side, while an introduction by The Doors’ John Densmore (who recalls sneaking into Shelly’s Manne-Hole as a teenager to catch the trio’s brilliance) and new liner notes by jazz writer Eugene Holley Jr.(DownBeat, Hot House Jazz Guide, SFJAZZ) grace the other side.
Tracks:
Side A:1. Come Rain or Come Shine (Take 5, Album Master)2. Autumn Leaves (Take 13, Stereo Album Master)3. Witchcraft (Take 5, Album Master)4. When I Fall In Love (Take 2, Album Master)5. Peri’s Scope (Take 2, Album Master)Side B:1. What Is This Thing Called Love (Take 4, Album Master)2. Spring Is Here (Take 6, Album Master)3. Someday My Prince Will Come (Take 5, Album Master)4. Blue in Green (Take 3, Album Master)Side C:1. Witchcraft (Take 4, Alternate, Mono)*2. Witchcraft (Take 6, Alternate, Mono)*3. Spring Is Here (Take 4, Alternate, Mono)*4. Come Rain or Come Shine (Take 2, Alternate, Mono)*5. Come Rain or Come Shine (Take 4, Alternate, Mono)Side D:1. Autumn Leaves (Take 9, Mono Album Master)2. Blue in Green (Take 1, Alternate, Mono)3. Blue in Green (Take 2, Alternate, Mono)4. Someday My Prince Will Come (Take 1, Alternate, Mono)*Side E:1. Israel (Take 1, Stereo Album Master)2. Haunted Heart (Take 3, Stereo Album Master)3. Beautiful Love (Take 2, Stereo Album Master)4. Elsa (Take 5, Stereo Album Master)Side F:1. Nardis (Take 2, Stereo Album Master)2. How Deep Is the Ocean (Take 3, Stereo Album Master)3. I Wish I Knew (Take 4, Stereo Album Master)4. Sweet and Lovely (Take 4, Stereo Album Master)Side G:1. Elsa (Take 4, Alternate, Stereo)*2. Elsa (Take 6, Alternate, Stereo)*3. Sweet and Lovely (Take 3, Alternate, Stereo)*4. Sweet and Lovely (Take 5, Alternate, Stereo)*Side H:1. Sweet and Lovely (Take 6, Alternate, Stereo)*2. Nardis (Take 1, Alternate, Stereo)*3. Beautiful (Take 1, Alternate, Stereo)4. I Wish I Knew (Take 2, Alternate, Stereo)Side I:1. I Wish I Knew (Take 3, Alternate, Stereo)*2. I Wish I Knew (Take 5, Alternate, Stereo)*3. Haunted Heart (Take 2, Alternate, Stereo)*4. The Boy Next Door (Take 1, Outtake, Stereo)*Side J:1. The Boy Next Door (Take 4, Outtake, Stereo)2. The Boy Next Door (Take 6, Outtake, Stereo)3. Walking Up (Take 1, Outtake, Stereo)*4. How Deep Is the Ocean (Take 1, Alternate, Stereo)*5. How Deep Is the Ocean (Take 2, Alternate, Stereo)* = Previously Unreleased
