In 1953, Duke Ellington recorded a solo piano piece that was lush, dreamy and introspective. The song was composed in the key of D, and Ellington called it Reflections in D. Ten years later, dancer Alvin Ailey choreographed an expressive modern dance for a solitary dancer set to the Ellington ballad. Ailey created the brief dance as an interlude to hold the audience's attention as the company's other dancers changed costumes between ballets.
In early 1978, pianist Bill Evans decided to record Reflections in D for the first time on his album New Conversations—a follow-up to his Conversations With Myself (1963) and Further Conversations With Myself (1967). On these albums, Evans overdubbed himself, as if he were two pianists engaged in a duet.
The exception on New Conversations was Reflections in D, a solo track without overdubbing. It is one of Evans's most beautiful solo pieces and a rich tribute to Ellington. Don't bother comparing the versions in a search for the "better" expression. They are equally romantic and meditative. Ellington's is more ruminative and hesitant in places, as if he's weighing up thoughts while reflecting. Evans's rendition is more organic and stirring—a poetic seascape, with the tide pushing and pulling and building steadily. Both are perfect for different reasons.
Here's Bill Evans's New Conversations version of Reflections in D in 1978...
Here's Duke Ellington's original solo piece in 1953...
And here's Vernard J. Gilmore performing Alvin Alley's Reflections in D interlude...
Other Perfection tracks in this ongoing series...
- Paul Desmond and Jim Hall: Any Other Time, go here.
- John Coltrane: You Say You Care, go here.
- Quincy Jones: Funk Junction, go here.
- Art Farmer's Work of Art, go here.
- Miles Davis: A Gal in Calico, go here.
- Gene Krupa: Mulligan Stew, go here.
- Dave Brubeck: The Duke, go here.
- Horace Silver: The Back Beat, go here.
- Horace Parlan: Up & Down, go here.
- Dexter Gordon: Society Red, go here.
- Barney Kessel: You Go to My Head, go here.
- Count Basie: Corner Pocket, go here.
- Herbie Mann: Manteca, go here.
- Donald Byrd: Bronze Dance, go here.
- George Shearing: I'll Be Around, go here.
- Ammons & Stitt: You Talk That Talk, go here.
- Count Basie: Blues in My Heart, go here.
- Moonlight in Vermont, go here.
- Johnny Griffin / Matthew Gee, Here, go here.
- Jimmy Smith / Stanely Turrentine: When I'I Grow Too Old to Dream, go here.
- Chet Baker, Estate, go here.
- Jazz Studio 1, Tenderly, go here.
- Herb Pomeroy, Down Home Outing, go here.
- Frank Sinatra, There's a Small Hotel, go here.
- Bill Harris Herd, Blackstrap, go here.
- Gerry Mulligan, Westwood Walk, go here.
- Red Garland and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, We'll Be Together Again, go here.
