Tony Bennett Bill Evans - Together Again (18 tracks) +Album Reviews

Breathtaking!

Toshio Fukuhara | Yokohama, Japan | 11/08/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The original issue by DRG Records that I own was disappointing due to the inferior sound quality filled with fuss. I could hardly finish the whole disc.
This remastered Concord version gives you crystal clear sound quality and the eight out-takes that are equally good and a few seconds longer than in-take versions that were in the original album. I tried to compare six in-takes and out-takes that overlapped but gave up. The out-takes are so good in their own right that I got really into each tune and was thoroughly overwhelmed with joy. No need for comparative analysis. Bill's piano playing is so deep and sensitive that Tony must have been positively affected to sing each tune with tender loving care. Tony sure was lucky to be accompanied by Bill Evans.
But most importantly, here's to the latest remastering technology!"

Spare and Elegant

B. Caldwell | Houston, TX USA | 02/09/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tony doesn't aim for the heart of a melody. That's his genious. He plays at the edges, sometimes almost atonally, like a jazz riff. But he leads the listener on a journey through the song, aware of all the places he could take it. "You Must Believe in Spring" is one such journey sung with such conviction and soul that it is breathtaking. Bill evans is equally spare and elegant, never overwhelming the song with style. The songs stand on their own like lonely monuments."

Not as good as the first time

Rick loves jazz | Sacramento, Ca | 03/22/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The first album pairing Bill Evans and Tony Bennett was a classic - one of the two best albums of jazz vocals ever recorded. When I learned that they recorded a second album, I could hardly wait to hear it.

I didn't find this album as moving as the first. That's not to say that it isn't very good in spots - it just lacks something.

After listening to it several times , I believe that the "something" that it lacks is two things - the tunes are not generally as good, and it was mixed differently.

While there are some very good tunes on this album, they aren't uniformly good, while the first effort featured no weak spots.

Second, Evans' piano is mixed more in the background, making him more of an accompanist and less an equal partner, except when he has a chance to improvise.

On the plus side, Evans does get opportunity to "stretch out" on a few more tunes here.

On the whole, a very good album, but one that doesn't reach the lofty peaks of the original."

Can Lightning Strike Twice?

Fly By Light | Atlanta, Georgia | 03/09/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Not in my opinion. On the first CD, both men absolutely "brought it" and the result was magic. There was top-form musicianship and interplay, and the engineering and song selections let both performers shine. This CD, although certainly a fine work, falls short in a couple of ways.

First, Evans seems more relegated to the background. Bennett fans may be perfectly OK with that, but I was not. Several factors could be at work there - the mixing engineer, the take selected by the producer, the comping of Evans, or some mixture of the three. My sometimes fertiles imagination tells me that the producer was thinking, "Let's really reach out the Bennett fans with this one."

Second, the energy of this CD is not up to the first. The most upbeat number that comes to mind, Dream Dancing, is a lot calmer than When In Rome, so the "average energy level" of the entire CD is brought way down. Again, some people may be OK with that.

Third, the performances on this CD seem a little more "phoned in". Evans' playing is always great, but he doesn't play with the authority and fire he has on the first CD. Bennett seems a little tired or distracted. The moods he conjures up seem a bit flat compared to the interestingly dark and sometimes ironic tones he gives to numbers on the first CD. Reasonably minds may differ about that.

If you're wondering whether to get the first CD or the second, start with the first. The excitement of something new comes across and the performers are near their best. If you love it and can't get enough, you'll like this too. If you love Tony Bennett and can't get enough of his intimate "just me and the piano" sound, you will probably love this one too. If you want more of Bill Evans minus trio, you may be happier with Alone or Alone Again."

Communicating emotion with and without words

A C SHIELDS | melbourne , australia | 07/30/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This record can help you to feel emotion .

Tony is there to tell you the stories - he is singing songs , but to me he is vocalising the way he feels or talking about something that took place in his life rather than singing lyrics .

You feel it all affects him personally .

Bill supports him and also makes beautiful statements as and when required .

The arrangements are concise and focused , the feel of the whole thing is intimate .

This duo only made two albums together , which make them all the more special .

It's like eavesdropping on a conversation - one we should all hear . Buy both albums by this duo . I will still be listening to both of them ( the albums and the musicians ) in many years' time .

The albums would make perfect gifts ."

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