The memorable pairing of Tony Bennett and—no, not Lady Gaga—jazz pianist Bill Evans will have reached its 40th anniversary during 2015, and Fantasy Records will be reissuing the work of the two performers in the form of a four-LP set titled The Complete Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Sessions. The set will become available on April 28, according to Jazz Times.
The first disc will consist of 1975's The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, a classic featuring the pair's takes on standards such as "Young and Foolish" and "Days of Wine and Roses." Two years later the pair teamed up again for the less celebrated (but still worthwhile) Together Again. The latter two discs on the set will contain additional songs and alternate takes from those sessions. Jazz know-it-alls are wagging their fingers at us merely excited at the prospect of vinyl releases: The Complete Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Recordings was previously released on regular ol' compact disc during 2009.
However, those who jump for the new format will also get a 12-page booklet (at least bigger than the CD version's) as well as a 12x12 photo of the two musicians.
The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album was included in music writer Tom Moon's book 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die, where he described Bennet's performance as having "melted the artifice of the studio by finding the drama within little gestures. His best recordings overflow not just with musical sophistication, but an enthusiasm for life, and a real understanding of all sorts of heartache." Another highlight of the album is "Waltz For Debby," an original by Evans that has itself gone on to become a jazz standard.
Bennett has of course seen a resurgence in the last few year, thanks largely to collaborations with Lady Gaga and Amy Winehouse. Evans would unfortunately die at the age of 51, just three years after his second run with Bennett.
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