Is The Ivory Hunters a good place to start with Bill Evans?

Yes, The Ivory Hunters is recommended as a starting point for new Bill Evans listeners. Lush harmonies intertwine with intricate rhythms, creating a sophisticated yet accessible jazz experience that feels both timeless and intimate. Released in September 1959, The Ivory Hunters arrived during Bill Evans' ascent as a prominent jazz pianist following his landmark collaboration on Miles Davis's Kind of Blue. This album showcases Evans's evolving style, blending classical influences with the innovative elements of modal jazz established in his earlier work.

Who is The Ivory Hunters for?

The Ivory Hunters works well if you're into long, immersive listening sessions, late-night contemplative moods and gradual builds and payoffs.

How many songs are on The Ivory Hunters?

The Ivory Hunters has 6 tracks, running approximately 42 minutes.

The Ivory Hunters

Bill Evans · 1959

42 min · 6 tracks · jazz

Lush harmonies intertwine with intricate rhythms, creating a sophisticated yet accessible jazz experience that feels both timeless and intimate.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Honeysuckle Rose Start here — This track exemplifies Evans's ability to blend swinging rhythms with a lyrical piano style, showcasing both technical skill and emotional depth.
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As Time Goes By — Evans transforms this classic standard into a contemplative exploration, highlighting his unique touch and interpretative prowess.
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The Way You Look Tonight — The lush arrangement and intricate interplay between piano and bass elevate this rendition into a memorable dialogue of melody and harmony.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

60 /100

Treeline

Higher than 66% of albums we've rated

The album showcases intricate compositions and cohesive arrangements, solidifying Evans's place in jazz.

What we noticed

Each track features intricate piano melodies accompanied by subtle bass and drum patterns, creating a layered texture.
The album maintains a consistent mid-tempo feel, with no drastic tempo changes between tracks.
Harmonies are often built on extended chords, giving the music a lush and sophisticated quality.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

long, immersive listening sessions
late-night contemplative moods
gradual builds and payoffs
steady, consistent energy levels

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — This album solidified Evans's reputation in the jazz community post Kind of Blue.
Career context: Released in September 1959, The Ivory Hunters arrived during Bill Evans' ascent as a prominent jazz pianist following his landmark collaboration on Miles Davis's Kind of Blue. This album showcases Evans's evolving style, blending classical influences with the innovative elements of modal jazz established in his earlier work.
Stylistic neighbors: Chick Corea· Keith Jarrett· Herbie Hancock