BILL EVANS & BOB BROOKMEYER: The ivory hunters (Double barrelled piano)

BILL EVANS & BOB BROOKMEYER
Voce já deve estar com água na boca, imaginando os fantásticos duetos de Brookmeyer ao trombone e Bill ao piano não é? Que pena...não vai ouví-los porque NÃO TEM TROMBONE! Em contrapartida, vai ouvir o que jamais imaginou: BB & BE tocando juntos, em dois pianos. O fato de Brookmeyer tocar piano não é novidade: afinal, todos os grandes músicos de jazz tocam (ou pelo menos, "arranham") piano. Mas Bob Brookmeyer era excelente pianista, com uma técnica irrepreensível e amplo domínio do instrumento. De quebra, nos acompanhamentos, dois componentes do "Modern Jazz Quartet": Percy Heath & Connie Kay.   
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ALBUM REVIEW
Brookmeyer never unpacks his valve trombone, and teams up with Bill Evans on piano. Recorded one afternoon in 1959, Brookmeyer offers a staight-ahead, technically rich piano style that contrasts with the more laid back, spontaneous, and lyrical one that became the hallmark of Bill Evans. At the time of this recording, Brookmeyer was an established trombonist with several records to his name. Evans was emerging as a phenomonal pianist, having just joined the Miles Davis quintet in 1958. The tracks recorded were standards (someone liked Gershwin), with the faster paced ones (Honeysuckle Rose) spotlighting Brookmeyer and the slower paced ones (The Man I Love) allowing Evans to show his stuff. Typical of the stereo style of the day, Brookmeyer is heard on the left channel and Evans on the right, with Percy Heath on bass and Connie Kay on drums mixed across both channels. This is a "must have" CD for jazz enthusiasts because of the unusual instrumentation, and as a point of reference in the developing career of Bill Evans.
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It's a fun, inventive romp through seven durable pop standards, and reveals a quite adventurous Evans and a surprisingly good Brookmeyer. ("Surprisingly", since piano is not his first instrument). Brookmeyer, of course, went on to be a consummate arranger, leader of one of most exciting big bands in jazz today, and of course, always a very thoughtful and creative trombonist. The two-piano arrangements are calculated for who does what and when, and the contrasts between the two keyboards are a great example of two learned musicians who rarely clash, yet are willing to take chances and revel in the process. The MJQ rhythm section of Percy Heath and Connie Kay keep a nice non-interference backing, and hearing Bill with someone else on piano is quite an experience. Mr. Brookmeyer more than holds his own, providing sturdy, yet often uncompromising voicings, inspired fills and flowing lines for Bill's intelligent solos and chording-- and Bill returns the favor, being rhythmically playful, yet giving great support and adding some playful comments as Brookmeyer gets more than just a few good licks in. One has to wonder if any of this was an impetus for four years later, when Bill recorded his first "Conversations" album (which won the Grammy ), overdubbing himself on three tracks. Every tune here is a highlight, and the performances upbeat and diverse, so it's more than just a fun ride. This record seems to go in and out of print, so pick it up -- a worthy Evans recording, even though at a steep import price.
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MINHA OPINIÃO
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(*) Por um daqueles insondáveis mistérios da Net, o link para download inclui mais 6 faixas de álbuns não identificados de Bill Evans. Segundo o jargão popular: "de graça...até injeção na veia!"
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BILL EVANS & BOB BROOKMEYER: The ivory hunters (Double barrelled piano)

PERSONNEL:
Bill Evans - piano
Bob Brookmeyer - piano
Percy Heath - bass
Connie Kay - drums

TRACKS/FAIXAS:
1. Honeysuckle Rose
2. As Time Goes By
3. The Way You Look Tonight
4. It Could Happen to You
5. The Man I Love
6. I Got Rhythm

Tracks from other Bill Evans´s albums
7. Everything I´ve got belongs to you
8. You don´t know what love is
9. I´m getting sentimental over you
10.Dancing in the dark
11.I love you
12.S´wonderful