Live at the Balboa Jazz Club, Vol. 2

by Ken Dryden Also from an evening in Madrid, Volume 2 starts awkwardly as the tape machine operator was a bit slow fading up at the beginning of the opening track "Bill's Hit Tune." Evans frequently saluted the late Gary McFarland, who died under tragic circumstances in 1978, by playing McFarland's haunting ballad "Gary's Theme." Also captivating is Evans' tribute to his daughter, "Laurie." The showstopper is the intense and very long exploration of "Nardis," stretched to capacity at 17 minutes; all three musicians shine in the solo spotlight. Although this CD also suffers from occasional sound distortion, it will be sought by serious fans of Bill Evans.