"When Linda was still here, I would be playing in the living room and she would ask, 'What is that?’," explains Falkner Evans. ‘It would just be something off the top of my head, and she would say, ‘That sounds great. Have you ever thought about going into the studio and doing something like that?’ I always replied, ‘I have, but I’m just not ready now.’ And then I was ready." What seemingly finally readied Evans – veteran of trio, quintet and larger settings – for unaccompanied and completely free improvisation was the suicide of Linda, his wife.

First came his solo debut, Invisible Words, in 2021, which featured a set of new compositions dedicated to Linda. And now we have the solo piano follow-up, Through the Lens, this time comprising five lengthy pieces of free improvisation. The narrative charge is unmistakable – the likes of ‘Soul Witness’ and ‘Closeness… Desire’ want to tell a story – but so equally is the depth of feeling as Evans uses the keyboard to go on a journey of memory and self-discovery. It makes for a soberingly tender listen.