The first album Bill Evans recorded after the sudden, shocking death of bassist Scott LaFaro—his partner in the classic 1959-61 trio—is remarkable on multiple levels. That Evans returned to the studio so soon was likely part of a necessary healing process. In doing so, he quietly moved his art forward, shaping Moon Beams into a deeply reflective, meditative song cycle unlike anything else in his catalog at the time.
Earlier this year, Moon Beams was restored to its original glory as part of Craft Recordings’ excellent Original Jazz Classics reissue series. New AAA lacquers were cut directly from the original stereo master tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, then pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI. The release features period-accurate labels, the original cover art, high-quality sleeve construction, and audiophile-grade, plastic-lined inner sleeves for each disc.
The original artwork matters here. Moon Beams originally featured then-model—and soon-to-be underground pop-rock icon—Nico on the cover (yes, that Nico of Velvet Underground fame). In 1967, the album was inexplicably repackaged with a quasi-psychedelic pop-art design and retitled Polka Dots and Moonbeams. I know—because I own a copy.
All told, I’m genuinely thrilled with this OJC edition of Moon Beams, which arguably sounds better than my 1967 pressing. The new vinyl is dead quiet and perfectly centered—an essential detail for piano-driven recordings, where even slight off-center pressings can cause audible pitch wavering. Here, the vinyl disappears in the best possible way, leaving you free to bask in the unforced musicality of these legendary players.
Moon Beams is a beautiful album listen start to finish underscoring why rare originals are so collectible and desirable. While I’m sure that a special edition reissue of Moon Beams such as the 2003 45 RPM two-disc pressing from Analogue Productions is probably exemplary — its sells on Discogs for between $160 and $300 — being able to obtain a fine sounding new edition for around $50 is a blessing for most of us who can’t quite justify pricey collector’s items. For additional perspective, at the time of this writing, there were just six original 1962 editions on Discogs, the best of which was in just VG-plus condition selling for around $170.
If you’re looking for the best possible listening experience of Moon Beams for the money, don’t hesitate to pick up Craft Recordings’ OJC series reissues. Be forewarned: there are inferior unofficial “gray market” copies out there which are cheaper still, but they don’t sound as good as these editions and typically have inferior cover art and production aesthetics.
Where to buy: $48.98 at Amazon
Mark Smotroff is a deep music enthusiast / collector who has also worked in entertainment oriented marketing communications for decades supporting the likes of DTS, Sega and many others. He reviews vinyl for Analog Planet and has written for Audiophile Review, Sound+Vision, Mix, EQ, etc. You can learn more about him at LinkedIn.
Related Reading:
- Keith Jarrett At The Deer Head Inn: Inside The Complete ECM Box Set That Jazz Fans Didn’t Know They Needed
- After Hours Review (Craft OJC): Thad Jones & Company, Midnight Jazz For When The Bar Closes And The Truth Starts
- Sonny Rollins Plus 4 Review: Craft Recordings’ OJC Series Hits Peak Form In 2025
- Bill Evans’ Haunted Heart 5LP Set Brings The Legendary 1959-61 Riverside Trio Recordings Back To Life With Spectacular Plangent Restoration
