Bill Evans feat. Stan Getz - But Beautiful (1974) (eac-log-cover)

Bill Evans feat. Stan Getz - But Beautiful (1974)

jazz | 1cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | 390MB

Milestone | MCD9249-2

Allmusic:
Stan Getz and Bill Evans initially worked on a recording in 1964 that, much like the Getz collaboration with Gary Burton entitled Nobody Else But Me, was done on the heels of the saxophonist's commercial success in the bossa nova arena. Both efforts were scrapped and laid on the shelf to gather dust, and were eventually issued for the first time some decades later. The Getz/Burton quartet was a touring unit, whereas in 1974 Evans and Getz performed live concerts in Europe, the source material for these dates, recorded by Radio One in Antwerp, Belgium, and NOS in Laren, The Netherlands. Even after a rehearsal, the pairing of Getz with the longstanding trio of Evans featuring drummer Marty Morell and bassist Eddie Gomez for both concerts had their rough moments, tense occurrences, and in one instance, Evans laying out entirely or playing without the tenor saxophonist. It is also assumable that there was additional material not included that might have been more of a train wreck. Of course, it would be difficult for these absolute masters of jazz to play anything less than very good music, but the flaws here are evident. A version of "Funkallero" has Getz rushing through and playing barely a half chorus on the melody before stepping aside. The most evident problem is during "Stan's Blues," where Evans barely plays at all, and at the end of the program the trio seems liberated without Getz, waltzing through blue fields in playful, childlike fashion à la Dave Brubeck or Vince Guaraldi on "See Saw" and the mostly improvised take of "Lover Man." A version of the Jimmy Rowles evergreen "The Peacocks" is a piano/sax duet that ranges from pensive to brooding. The band does get it together -- albeit in spurts -- starting with the chamber inspiration of Evans on "Grandfather's Waltz" evoking the lilting tenor of Getz, and continuing with the absolutely gorgeous "But Beautiful" with a sighing sound from Getz and the always lovely "Emily" and "Lover Man," a bit stock and phoned in, but still breathtaking. The highs and lows of jazz are all too telling on this recording, where one has to wonder what the audiences were feeling and thinking as this battle of the wills went on for all to witness. Nonetheless the sound quality is good, and this will be one completists will want to add to their Evans and Getz collections.

Tracks
-01. "Grandfather's Waltz" (Farnlof, Lees) – 7:45
-02. "Stan's Blues" (Getz, Gryce) – 5:32
-03. "But Beautiful" (Burke, VanHeusen) – 5:26
-04. "Emily" (Johnny Mandel, Johnny Mercer) – 5:26
-05. "Lover Man" (Davis, Ramirez, Sherman) – 7:50
-06. "Funkallero" (Bill Evans) – 6:18
-07. "The Peacocks" (Rowles) – 6:47
-08. "You and the Night and the Music" (Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz) – 7:24
-09. "See-Saw" (Coleman) – 6:22
-10. "The Two Lonely People" (Evans, Hall) – 7:58

Personnel
* Bill Evans – Piano
* Stan Getz – Sax (Tenor)
* Eddie Gomez – Bass
* Helen Keane – Producer
* Marty Morell – Drums

sample & buy: But Beautiful