Tony Bennett & Bill Evans together, what more needs to be said…
Tony Bennett & Bill Evans – The Tony Bennett & Bill Evans Album – OJC/Craft Recordings #CR00613 – Stereo 180 gm vinyl – 1975 – ****1/2
(Tony Bennett – vocals; Bill Evans – piano)
It is surprising that it took so long for Tony Bennett and Bill Evans to make a recording together. Each was a master of his own craft. Tony was the quintessential jazz vocalist, with a winning muscular, yet soothing voice; and Bill Evans was among the greatest jazz pianists ever, with a gentle, fluid, impressionist touch, and a master of using “space,” to let his melodies linger.
Well, in June, 1975, their meeting happened. Thru the efforts of Evans’ manager, Helen Keane, and executive producer, Orrin Keepnews, using the Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, Calif, these two giants met over three days and recorded without any other musicians. Having never recorded together prior, they had to rely on their instincts for communication. Bennett had worked with both piano trio and big band, but Evans had little experience backing vocalists, except for the brief work he did with Helen Merrill and Mark Murphy.(Those were done with backing musicians, I believe).
The June, 1975 duo album has now been re-released thru Craft Recordings, remastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearant Audio, using the original master tapes. Hearing Bill and Tony “interact” together seamlessly is a pleasurable auditory experience. Neither intrudes on the other’s space. Having three days to rehearse surely helped.
The song list is standard American classics, with Evans’ staple, “Waltz for Debby,” a natural addition. Bennett is at his relaxed best, smooth as silk, like sipping a fine cognac. Throughout, there is an ease of presentation, with superb comping by Evans, and a sublime richness in expression by Tony.
Each is in prime form.
Whether it is the starter, “Young and Foolish,” the Bennett staple, “Some Other Time,” all the way through “My Foolish Heart,” and ending with the bittersweet, “Days of Wine and Roses,” these two masters let us soak up their craft on full display.
The resultant acclaim that this album generated resulted in another meeting the next year, Together Again. Let’s hope that album gets a major remastered upgrade, as well. Meanwhile we’ll enjoy this classic duo meeting with superb acoustics.
—Jeff Krow
The Tony Bennett & Bill Evans Album
Tracklist:
Side 1:
Young and Foolish (3:50)
The Touch of Your Lips (3:54)
Some Other Time (4:40)
When in Rome (2:53)
We’ll Be Together Again (4:36)
Side 2:
My Foolish Heart (4:47)
Waltz for Debby (4:02)
But Beautiful (3:34)
Days of Wine and Roses (2:20)
More information through Craft Recordings
