Richard Beirach is one of the most original, inventive, and intellectual pianists in what you might call the "Bill Evans school." At his best -- as on this record -- he plays with drive and passionate intensity. The opening tune, "Nardis," was written by Evans and Miles Davis; there have been dozens of covers of it, including two or three by Beirach himself on other projects. This, however, is one of the very best, ranking up there in the top ten with Ralph Towner's mindblowing solo guitar version on "Solo Concert." The trio here swings mightily, with some upper-register dialogues with the bass a la Evans and Scott La Faro. (Whatever happened to Tusa and Williams? They seem to have vanished after this very promising debut.) Another highlight of the set is a Tusa/Beirach original called "Seeing You," which circles around the melody in a brooding melancholy (this is not a BAD thing, understand) before the melody itself shines at the end, full of unexpected tenderness and joy. The other tunes are full of intriguing turns and subtle phrasing. Beirach's music can be a bit cerebral, but the warmth and swing of Tusa and Williams save him from the aridity that plagues many of his other releases. - Steve Silberman
Eon was the first album under the New York-born Richard Beirach’s name, and arguably still his best. Its balance of rhythm, melody, and reflection epitomizes the piano trio format, and nowhere more so than “Nardis” (Davis/Evans), the 14-minute epic that opens this set of six progressively far-reaching tunes. ECM listeners may recognize its lovely vamp as performed by Ralph Towner on his unparalleled Solo Concert of 1979. Here, it glows under a full and vibrant touch. Beirach keeps his fingers busily engaged, while allowing his rhythm section some glorious airtime, winding down like a rock band extending power chords, only here in a more intimate space in which that prolonging becomes not a dramatic farewell but the acceptance of a new beginning. “Places” (Dave Liebman) is an effervescent piano solo with all the romanticism one might expect from such a consummate musician. “Seeing You” (Tusa/Beirach) continues in much the same vein, but reintroduces the smooth glide of brushed drums and bass. A subtle rhythmic acuity and free and easy interplay suspend the listener in a swaying hammock of nostalgia. Block chords burrow through the title track with a hint of dissonance before flowering in calmer pastures. Fair, extended performances make this the culmination of the album’s surrounding gestures. Sentiments build into ecstasy before a final sprinkling from piano and cymbals is flicked into darkness like water from glittering fingertips. “Bones” at last puts more sticks to skin as Beirach recedes for tearful bass solo, hitting the occasional accent to keep us chordally ground. “Mitsuku” closes us out in style with a gratifying promise. - Tyran Grillo
Tracks
1. Nardis (miles Davis)
2. Places (David Liebman)
3. Seeing You (Frank Tusa/Richard Beirach)
4. Eon (Richard Beirach)
5. Bones (Richard Beirach)
6. Mitsuku (Richie Beirach)
RICHARD BEIRACH piano
FRANK TUSA bass
JEFF WILLIAMS drums
Recorded November 1974 at Generation Sound Studios, New York City
ECM Records UCCU-5194