In the mid-1970s, singer Tony Bennett and jazz pianist Bill Evans, two legends in their respective fields, joined together for Bay Area recording sessions that spawned The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album in 1975 and its sequel Together Again the following year. Over the years record companies have been known to get in the way of such musical unions due to contractual issues. In this instance, with Evans being committed to Fantasy Records and Bennett founding Improv Records each label garnered its own release, to the benefit of all.
In 2009, Fantasy/Concord has released the two-disc set The Complete Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Recordings. Aside from featuring both albums, there are two bonus tracks from the Together sessions and a number of alternate takes, all of which have either appeared on subsequent album reissues or the boxed set Tony Bennett: The Complete Improv Recordings.
Both men are very expressive in their emotion and phrasing as they present many aspects of love. They could easily have performed solo, as Evans did on “The Bad and the Beautiful,” and still delivered evocative pieces, but together they gel into an impressive duo, driving and inspiring each other. It’s not surprising to read in the liner notes by Will Friedwald, co-author of Bennett’s autobiography, they recorded simultaneously sharing space together in the studio.
Opening with “Young and Foolish” from Plain and Fancy, you hear both men express the regret of a relationship where the participants are aware “We haven't long to be.” Not because the couple’s love has dissipated but because of outside forces, punctuated by both men soaring on the line “the bluebird has to fly.” One of the lovers could have sung “We'll Be Together Again,” assuring “that some day some way” their reunion will happen. Evans’ playing underlies the sadness but doesn’t dwell in it. While parted, “You’re Nearer” is a song for the lovers as the narrator reveals they are still as close as they can be because “I love you so.”
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