This is a fascinating little piece and well worth a listen.

Evans was captivated by Chopin’s “Berceuse” and fashioned his piece after it in every way; duration, melodic treatment, static harmonic foundation and charm but whereas Chopin’s work is called a lullaby, the Evan’s piece by virtue of its title invokes the essential elements that bring peace, although it is a personal peace rather than something more global. (Or perhaps the personal may have such a ripple effect to bring about global outcomes?)

Whatever the case, Evan’s “Peace…” seems to be the antithesis to the Chopin lullaby which lulls to slumber and dreams whereas “Peace…” awakens to activity, to opportunities yet undiscovered, to portentous possibilities.

The musical influence here is unmistakably jazz and it may take a long time for such a piece as this to find a home, appropriately programmed, on the concert stage but it should. One such attempt has been made in recording but, to me, unsuccessfully so as the tempo, approach, timing were all “classical” in approach and had little to do with the liberation and improvisation one finds in well played American jazz.

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