{"id":9673,"date":"2026-05-22T00:04:28","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T00:04:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/empire-music.net\/index.php\/2026\/05\/22\/reviewed-noa-levy-paul-edis-trio-michel-petrucciani\/"},"modified":"2026-05-22T00:04:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T00:04:28","slug":"reviewed-noa-levy-paul-edis-trio-michel-petrucciani","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/empire-music.net\/index.php\/2026\/05\/22\/reviewed-noa-levy-paul-edis-trio-michel-petrucciani\/","title":{"rendered":"Reviewed: Noa Levy &amp; Paul Edis Trio | Michel Petrucciani"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The first of these projects, <em>Portrait In Evans<\/em>, serves as a bridge between the San Francisco jazz scene and the United Kingdom\u2019s vibrant instrumental community. Vocalist Noa Levy, a newcomer to the London circuit, has partnered with pianist Paul Edis\u2014the recipient of the prestigious 2023 Parliamentary Jazz Award\u2014to explore the melodic and emotional depths of the Bill Evans songbook. This collaboration is further bolstered by the presence of veteran reedman Alan Barnes, whose contributions on three of the ten tracks provide a rich, multi-instrumental texture to the ensemble.<\/p>\n<h2>A New Vocal Perspective on the Bill Evans Canon<\/h2>\n<p>The central ambition of <em>Portrait In Evans<\/em> lies in its attempt to humanize and verbalize the often-ethereal compositions of Bill Evans. While Evans is primarily remembered for his revolutionary approach to the jazz trio and his harmonic sensitivity, many of his works have been fitted with lyrics over the decades. This album draws from a diverse pool of lyricists, including the renowned Gene Lees, Bob Dorough, and Meredith d\u2019Ambrosio, as well as contributions from Paul Edis and Noa Levy themselves.<\/p>\n<p>Recorded at Red Gables Studio in London on July 9 and 10, 2024, the album features a rhythm section comprised of bassist Adam King and drummer Joel Barford. The project aims to &quot;paint a portrait&quot; of Evans as an artist, focusing on compositions that span his career. Levy\u2019s stated objective was not to alter the compositions but to &quot;step inside them,&quot; acknowledging the emotional openness that defined Evans\u2019s style.<\/p>\n<p>The tracklist includes several of the most iconic pieces in the jazz repertoire:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Blue in Green<\/em>: Originally appearing on Miles Davis\u2019s <em>Kind of Blue<\/em>, this piece is widely attributed to Evans\u2019s harmonic genius.<\/li>\n<li><em>Waltz For Debby<\/em>: Perhaps Evans\u2019s most famous composition, written for his niece.<\/li>\n<li><em>Very Early<\/em>: A complex, early-career composition that showcases Evans\u2019s mastery of form.<\/li>\n<li><em>Peri\u2019s Scope<\/em> and <em>Nardis<\/em>: Pieces that highlight the rhythmic and modal exploration of the post-bop era.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Technical Execution and Collaborative Dynamics<\/h2>\n<p>The instrumental execution of the Paul Edis Trio, alongside Alan Barnes, has been noted for its high technical standard. Edis, whose 2023 award solidified his standing as one of the UK\u2019s premier jazz pianists, displays a sensitive touch that mirrors the influence of Evans without falling into mere imitation. Alan Barnes provides essential contrast, utilizing the clarinet, bass clarinet, and alto saxophone to embellish the vocal lines. His work on &quot;Blue In Green&quot; and &quot;Time Remembered&quot; is particularly noteworthy for its ability to anticipate and support the melodic shifts of the compositions.<\/p>\n<p>However, the vocal component of the album\u2014the primary experiment of the recording\u2014has met with mixed critical observation. While Levy\u2019s scatting on &quot;Nardis&quot; is cited for its rhythmic swing and her performance on &quot;Only Child&quot; is considered a highlight of the ensemble\u2019s synergy, some critics have pointed toward inconsistencies in diction and rehearsal on tracks such as &quot;Peri\u2019s Scope.&quot; Despite these hurdles, the interpretations of &quot;Waltz For Debby&quot; and &quot;Turn Out The Stars&quot; are viewed as successful realizations of the project\u2019s goal to translate Evans\u2019s instrumental language into a vocal format.<\/p>\n<h2>Archival Excellence: The Kuumbwa Jazz Centre Recordings<\/h2>\n<p>Contrasting the new studio work of Levy and Edis is the release of <em>Michel Petrucciani: Kuumbwa<\/em>, a two-CD archival set that captures a high-water mark in the career of the late French pianist Michel Petrucciani. Produced by Zev Feldman, often referred to as the &quot;Jazz Detective&quot; for his work in unearthing lost recordings, this release documents a live performance at the Kuumbwa Jazz Centre in Santa Cruz, California, on May 17, 1987.<\/p>\n<p>Petrucciani, who lived with osteogenesis imperfecta (a condition characterized by brittle bones and short stature), was a titan of the piano whose physical limitations were entirely eclipsed by his virtuosity and melodic intensity. In 1987, Petrucciani was in his mid-20s and already a global sensation. This specific recording captures him in the company of a world-class rhythm section: bassist Dave Holland and drummer Eliot Zigmund.<\/p>\n<h2>The Legacy of Michel Petrucciani: Virtuosity Amidst Adversity<\/h2>\n<p>The Kuumbwa performance is characterized by what Eliot Zigmund describes as a &quot;real feeling of love and joy.&quot; The recording provides a snapshot of a period when Petrucciani was balancing his deep respect for the jazz tradition with his own burgeoning voice as a composer. The setlist is a masterclass in the Great American Songbook, featuring &quot;Stella By Starlight,&quot; &quot;Autumn Leaves,&quot; and &quot;My Funny Valentine,&quot; alongside Petrucciani\u2019s original works such as &quot;Eugenia&quot; and &quot;Morning Blues.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>The historical significance of this release is enhanced by an 18-page illustrated booklet. It contains contributions from:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Zev Feldman<\/strong>: Detailing the process of locating and restoring the tapes.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Alexandre Petrucciani<\/strong>: The artist\u2019s son, who reflects on his father\u2019s emotional legacy.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Eliot Zigmund<\/strong>: Providing a first-hand account of the trio\u2019s chemistry.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Thierry Peremarti<\/strong>: Offering critical context on Petrucciani\u2019s place in jazz history.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The presence of Dave Holland, a bassist known for his work with Miles Davis and his own avant-garde ensembles, ensures that the performances are grounded in a robust harmonic and rhythmic framework. Zigmund, who also famously worked with Bill Evans, provides a link between the two artists featured in this news cycle, further cementing the stylistic lineage that connects these releases.<\/p>\n<h2>Broader Impact and Implications for the Jazz Industry<\/h2>\n<p>These two releases underscore a bifurcated trend in the modern jazz industry: the push for new, conceptual interpretations of the &quot;classics&quot; and the preservation of historical &quot;buried treasures.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Portrait In Evans<\/em> project illustrates the ongoing desire of contemporary artists to find new ways into the canon. By adding lyrics to Bill Evans\u2019s music, the Edis Trio and Levy are participating in a tradition of &quot;vocalese&quot; and lyricization that seeks to make instrumental jazz more accessible to broader audiences. However, the critical reception of this album suggests that the transition from instrumental to vocal jazz remains a difficult tightrope to walk, requiring a perfect balance of technical precision and emotional resonance.<\/p>\n<p>Conversely, the <em>Kuumbwa<\/em> release represents the &quot;gold standard&quot; of archival preservation. The work of Elemental Records and Zev Feldman has become a vital part of the jazz economy, providing fans with high-quality, legally produced alternatives to bootleg recordings. The inclusion of extensive liner notes and interviews serves an educational purpose, ensuring that the context of the music is preserved for future generations.<\/p>\n<h2>Chronology and Production Details<\/h2>\n<p>The timeline of these releases reflects a busy period for the artists involved. Paul Edis and his trio recorded their tribute in the summer of 2024, aiming for a quick turnaround to maintain the momentum of his 2023 award win. In contrast, the Petrucciani tapes sat in obscurity for 37 years before being meticulously restored for this 2024 release.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Discography and Technical Information:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Portrait In Evans (Dot Time Records DT9168)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Personnel:<\/strong> Noa Levy (vocal); Paul Edis (piano); Alan Barnes (alto sax, clarinet, bass clarinet); Adam King (bass); Joel Barford (drums).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Recorded:<\/strong> July 9-10, 2024, at Red Gables Studio, London.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tracklist Highlights:<\/strong> &quot;Peri\u2019s Scope,&quot; &quot;Only Child,&quot; &quot;Nardis,&quot; &quot;Waltz For Debby.&quot;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Note:<\/strong> Critically noted for its lack of detailed liner notes and participant information in the physical CD packaging.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Kuumbwa (Elemental 5990459)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Personnel:<\/strong> Michel Petrucciani (piano); Dave Holland (bass); Eliot Zigmund (drums).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Recorded:<\/strong> May 17, 1987, at Kuumbwa Jazz Centre, Santa Cruz, California.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tracklist Highlights:<\/strong> &quot;Stella By Starlight,&quot; &quot;Autumn Leaves,&quot; &quot;All The Things You Are,&quot; &quot;Nardis.&quot;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Note:<\/strong> Recognized for its comprehensive 18-page booklet and high production value.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Ultimately, these two recordings offer listeners a choice between a modern reimagining of the past and a direct window into it. While the Edis\/Levy collaboration represents an ambitious, if inconsistent, step toward a new vocal tradition, the Petrucciani set stands as a definitive document of a master at the height of his powers. Together, they demonstrate the enduring power of the piano trio format and the lasting influence of Bill Evans on both the instrumentalists and vocalists of today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The first of these projects, Portrait In Evans, serves as a bridge between the San Francisco jazz scene and the United Kingdom\u2019s vibrant instrumental community. Vocalist Noa Levy, a newcomer&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":9672,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[551],"tags":[316,7047,318,315,7046,5844,1312,7048,319,317,2748],"class_list":["post-9673","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-jazz-blues-news","tag-blues","tag-edis","tag-improvisation","tag-jazz","tag-levy","tag-michel","tag-paul","tag-petrucciani","tag-reviewed","tag-soul","tag-trio"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/empire-music.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9673","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/empire-music.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/empire-music.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empire-music.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empire-music.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9673"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/empire-music.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9673\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empire-music.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9672"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/empire-music.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9673"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empire-music.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9673"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empire-music.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9673"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}