Special Encounter
Even for seasoned jazz veterans who place a premium on originality, formulas can exert a great appeal. The formula at work onSpecial Encountercan pretty much be summed up by the nameBill Evans,  whose legend as an architect of the modern piano trio rests on the kind of lyrical, bop-tinged ballads and mid-tempo numbers offered here. Joined by a pair of decorated Americans, bassistCharlie Hadenand drummerPaul Motian(a member of Evans' groundbreaking turn-of-the-1960s trio), Italian pianist Enrico Pieranunzi brings his usual elegance and insight to a smart mix of standards such as "You've Changed," Haden staples such as "Waltz for Ruth" and Pieranunzi originals such as the evocative "Secret Nights." If not all that special an encounter, it's certainly an agreeable one: the players, who have hooked up in different settings before, bond as a trio. The mood builds as the musicianship deepens.--Lloyd Sachs