The complete recording of Tony Bennett and Bill Evans as a duo – the Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album from '75 and the '76 follow up Together Again – back to back, plus a bonus CD of alternate takes! If you've ever doubted the real jazz sensibility of Tony Bennett, the Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album is the one to change your mind – because Tony's working here in a marvelously unadorned setting – with only the piano of Bill Evans to back him up! The record's a rare gem from years after Bennett was cracking the pop charts, but was willing to pull back to the jazz of his roots – and the session's equally rare for Evans, who rarely worked with vocalists at this point in his career. The simplicity of the album is its strength – and together, the pair really sound tremendous – slightly faltering at times, but in a way that exposes a sense of humanity you might not find in other records, especially those by Bennett. Titles include "When In Rome", "Some Other Time", "The Touch Of Your Lips", "My Foolish Heart", "Waltz For Debby", and "Young & Foolish". Together Again is another gem, following the form of the first duos record exceptionally well, perhaps with Evan's piano a bit more prominent in the sound, and another fine batch of tunes, including "The Bad And The Beautiful", "Lucky To Be Me", "A Child Is Born", "Lonely Girl", "You Must Believe In Spring" and more. The bonus CD features alternate takes of material from the 2 albums, with versions of "You And Foolish", "The Touch Of Your Lips", "Some Other Time", "When In Rome", "Waltz For Debbie" and multiple versions of "The Bad And The Beautiful", "A Child Is Born", and more. (Vocalists, Jazz) CD

Fantastic work from jazz organ genius Doug Carn – a player who's been off most folks' radar for a few decades, but has continued to make some really wonderful music of his own! This set's got Doug in tighter, sharper formation than on his 70s classics for the Black Jazz label – working with a quartet that features really searing work on tenor from Howard Riley and Teodross Avery – paired up and soaring to the skies with the bold, modal lines that flow from Carn's fingers with effortless ease! There's no bass at all on the record – Doug handles all of that with the foot pedals – and drummer Deszon Claiborne really gets the groove right, with a mix of complexity and swing that really echoes Doug's best impulses on the Hammond. Titles include "Bad Attitude", "Search For Peace", "Beyond All Limits", "Free For All", "Spiritual Sunrise Spiritual Sunset", and a great version of "Little B's Poem" – different than the style Doug used on the tune in the 70s. CD

Classic early work by Phineas Newborn – and a record cut right after his emergence from the great Memphis scene of the 1950s! Most of the album features trio material – cut with Kenny Clarke on drums and Oscar Pettiford on bass – but a few tracks also feature some very nice guitar work by Newborn's lesser-known brother, Calvin – who helps give the record some slight bluesy undercurrents you won't hear on other albums from Phineas at the time. The style is a mix of bop soloing and that lyrical approach to the keyboard that Newborn was forging along with a few other popular pianists of his generation – and titles include "Dahoud", "Celia", "Barbados", and "Newport Blues". CD

Classic early work by Phineas Newborn – and a record cut right after his emergence from the great Memphis scene of the 1950s! Most of the album features trio material – cut with Kenny Clarke on drums and Oscar Pettiford on bass – but a few tracks also feature some very nice guitar work by Newborn's lesser-known brother, Calvin – who helps give the record some slight bluesy undercurrents you won't hear on other albums from Phineas at the time. The style is a mix of bop soloing and that lyrical approach to the keyboard that Newborn was forging along with a few other popular pianists of his generation – and titles include "Dahoud", "Celia", "Barbados", and "Newport Blues". CD

Classic early work by Phineas Newborn – and a record cut right after his emergence from the great Memphis scene of the 1950s! Most of the album features trio material – cut with Kenny Clarke on drums and Oscar Pettiford on bass – but a few tracks also feature some very nice guitar work by Newborn's lesser-known brother, Calvin – who helps give the record some slight bluesy undercurrents you won't hear on other albums from Phineas at the time. The style is a mix of bop soloing and that lyrical approach to the keyboard that Newborn was forging along with a few other popular pianists of his generation – and titles include "Dahoud", "Celia", "Barbados", and "Newport Blues". CD