Further Explorations Concord Jazz****

Star projects usually fall into one of two widely divergent categories. More numerous is the bloated, ego-ridden variety, where the protagonists phone their performances in. But then there are the precious few when great musicians remind us why they are revered. Further Explorations, an examination of the music and legacy of the great pianist Bill Evans, belongs to the latter category. Recorded live over two weeks at New York's Blue Note in May 2010, it captures three vastly experienced musicians making fresh, joyously spontaneous music out of material that could hardly be more familiar to them. Both Eddie Gomez and Paul Motian spent long periods in Evans's genre-defining trio (though not at the same time) and Chick Corea grew up listening to and learning from it. An already fine and emotional tribute is imbued with added poignancy as one of the last recordings by drummer Motian, who died late last year. chickcorea.com