This Portrait LP was vibraphonist
Dave Pike's second recording as a leader.
Pike is joined by bassist Herbie Lewis, drummer Walter Perkins, and most notably pianist
Bill Evans. It was one of the pianist's first sessions after the tragic death of his bassist,
Scott LaFaro, and gives listeners a rare opportunity to hear
Evans this late in his career as a sideman. The music is fairly spontaneous, consisting of two ballads, "Besame Mucho," "Vierd Blues," and
Pike's "Why Not" (inspired by
Miles Davis' "So What"). An excellent if generally overlooked straight-ahead set. ~ Scott Yanow