Jim Witzel Quartet: Very Early (Remembering Bill Evans)

Very Early, a warmhearted tribute to the late great pianist Bill Evans, is led not by a pianist but by a guitarist, San Francisco-based Jim Witzel, an Evans admirer since his introduction to the pianist's singular music on Evans' 1961 album, Live at the Village Vanguard.

There is a pianist on this tasteful quartet date, namely Phil Aaron, who does not try to emulate Evans, instead using his own strong and distinctive voice to enhance his musical point of view. The emphasis here, as it was with Evans' various trios, is on close, near-telepathic teamwork. That of course encompasses the group's other members, bassist Dan Feiszli and drummer Jason Lewis, whose support is enthusiastic and unflagging.

The impressive playlist includes a pair of songs ("Very Early," "Peri's Scope") written by Evans and seven more performed and/or recorded by the legendary pianist in trio settings. One, Earl Zindars' "How My Heart Sings," served as the title of a 1962 recording by Evans' trio. Miles Davis composed "Solar" and "Nardis," bassist Steve Swallow (an Evans sideman) penned "Falling Grace," while trumpeter John Carisi wrote "Israel." The album opens with Victor Young's beguiling standard, "Beautiful Love," and includes Leonard Bernstein's wistful ballad, "Some Other Time," from the 1944 Broadway musical On the Town.

While Witzel and Aaron solo most often—and are a pleasure to hear—Feiszli and Lewis have their moments too, and make the most of every one. Witzel plays guitar in the best possible manner—spare, clean and articulate—and Aaron is very much on the same page. Feiszli is secure and steady, Lewis is adept with brushes or sticks. Not a trio, but firmly aligned with Evans' melodic and harmonic compass.

When it came to group interplay and musical exposition, Evans set a high bar indeed, and Witzel's admirable quartet does its best to honor that lofty standard.