CHET BAKER AND BILL EVANS - Alone Together (Waxtime Reissue) - LP - Vinyl

LP - Black Vinyl.

Although Chet Baker and Bill Evans were both highly lyrical and introspective players who could have made a marvelous team, they only recorded together on a couple of occasions. The reasons behind their limited association are unclear.

Both Baker and Evans were addicts during most of their lives, so it wasn't the case of a clean player avoiding an addict. However, the two musicians had very different attitudes towards life and music. While Baker led a very erratic life, and his addiction had direct consequences on his everyday playing, Evans always tried to keep his addiction private and never let it affect his performances. And while Chet was a self-taught genius, who played music mostly by ear, Evans was a well educated musician, composer and arranger. Moreover, although Evans toured Europe many times, he always remained an American resident, while Baker spent decades of his life in Europe.

Chet Baker's trumpet gives to this record something that too few performances possess today, thoughtful understatement. Baker picks his way here with less certainty than he once did, but the sensuous personal tone and the carefully wrought countermelodies are still in evidence and worth hearing. The rhythm section is a model of superlative musicianship in balance with mature taste. It is a unit that would bring out the best in any player, including the troubled young trumpet player featured here.

Chet Baker, Trumpet; Bill Evans, Piano; Herbie Mann, Flute; Pepper Adams, Baritone Sax; Kenny Burrell, Guitar (On A3 & B2 Only); Paul Chambers, Bass; Connie Kay, Drums Philly Joe Jones, Drums.

Tracklist:

1. Alone Together
2. How High The Moon
3. It Never Entered My Mind
4. 'tis Autumn
5. If You Could See Me Now
6. September Song
7. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
8. Time On My Hands
9. You And The Night And The Music
10. I Could Have Danced All Night *