www.philly.com
Orrin Evans
Faith In Action
(Posi-Tone Records ***1/2)

You’ve got to like the deep lyricism that Orrin Evans puts forth here. The bandleader, composer, pianist, label owner, booking agent, and former Germantown Friends School music teacher looks back to the early years of his career on this trio recording.

The set pays rich tribute to alto saxophonist Bobby Watson, who gave Evans an early break when the often-Philly-based pianist was on the rise in the mid-1990s. Half of the 10 tunes are by Watson, including the handsome ballad “Beattitudes.”

The playing here is magisterial, daring at times and quiet at others. Thelonious Monk clearly influences Evans’ puckish moments and clotted chords on the Evans original “Don’t Call Me Wally” though Evans is so far his own man that it’s a delight.

Evans’ trio, mostly with bassist Luques Curtis and drummer Nasheet Waits, represents a high point in his work. – Karl Stark