It’s not often that a recording comes along from over half a century ago that has never been released before, but which can truly be said to be essential listening. But that is the case with this remarkable archive find from Danish Radio, which contains Bill Evans’ earliest known appearance in Europe with his trio. It is not the first time European concerts by this Israels/Bunker line-up have appeared – for example music from the following year’s Ronnie Scott’s residency has been issued on Live in London from Harkit – but both technically and musically this album has the edge. The opening notes of ‘Waltz For Debby’ are an affectionate reminder of the Village Vanguard version with Scott LaFaro, but as Evans cascades across the keyboard in the transition to 4/4, and as Israels’ inventive walking lines gel with Bunker’s immaculate brushwork when they move into the improvised section, we’re hearing one of Evans’ hardest swinging line-ups. Israels solos effectively across the registers, his deft lines displaying the conversational quality of all the best Evans trios.

The density of the opening of an up-tempo-ish ‘Sweet and Lovely’ is up there with the trio’s best level of interaction, and there’s a dramatic, powerful solo from Bunker. Evans enthusiasts will treasure Evans’ only known trio version of ‘I Didn’t Know What Time It Was’, with a lyrical chorus from Israels, and an energetic chordal workout from the piano before the track returns to the theme. Every track – including alternate versions of four songs made a fortnight later at Copenhagen’s television studios – is rewarding. There is a bonus track too, a somewhat brisk ‘Round Midnight’ from the Gomez/Morell trio, recorded just a few days before the session released by Resonance as Evans in England. This goes to show just how different in character two versions of Evans’ trio were, five years apart, and how the interaction between the members alters, when two of the conversationalists are changed. All in all, a very important and rewarding document of a great piano trio in its prime.