Don Friedman Trio – Circle Waltz

Fantastic pressing. Piano seems to be in the room, bass is textured and punchy. Very nice release.

Labels on A and B sides spell Circle Waltz; Circle Walts.

Fabulous piano trio jazz. Great rhythm section with Chuck Israels and Pete LaRoca who sound like they are really listening to each other and are locked in. In the same vein as the Bill Evans trio but Don Friedman's playing seems less melancholy/emotional and more positive/ intellectual. My opinion of course and also my opinion that the first three Don Friedman Trio records should be in everyone's collection. They would be a strong candidate for the new OJC series.

A wide stereo image with piano left, bass and drums right, and of course that all important ambient centre, ah, stereophonics. Excellent digital transfer of an audiophile recording. I recommend a search of Ray Fowler's, dare I say, unique discography.

Nice playing and nice listening. Well recorded and played. They sound like the Trio of Evans, which does not detract from the high-quality music they serve to the listener.

Don Friedman is not as well known as pianists like Bill Evans or Wynton Kelly but on records like this (his best one IMHO) he shows his mastery over both classics and originals with magnificent playing and gorgeous arrangements that always keep the flow moving. Interesting that in another year or two he would move in a much more avant garde direction, playing free jazz and experimenting with forms that were pretty far afield from the music on conventional but beautiful records like this one.

Circle Waltz was originally recorded in May, 1962, by the trio of Don Friedman on piano, Chuck Israels on bass, and Pete La Roca on drums. The performance reminds Bill Evans trios. very impressive crisp analogue sound. Exceptional piano sound and extreme realism