This One's For Bill

Performer: Kenny Drew, Jr.
Engineer: Mark Wilder
Producer: Aleardo G. Buzzi
Distributor: Allegro Corporation (Dist

Notes: Solo performer: Kenny Drew, Jr. (piano). Recorded on November 20, 1995. Includes liner notes by Bret Primack and Aleardo G. Buzzi. This tribute to Bill Evans is a winner from start to finish because Kenny Drew Jr. is able to show a hint of the late pianist's influence without going overboard. Except for the title track, a swinging original by Drew, the songs are either written by Evans or very much associated with him. Evans' "Remembering The Rain" is a pretty ballad that deserves more attention, while "It's Love It's Christmas" is even more obscure but equally enjoyable. Drew's take of "Suicide Is Painless" has a heavy gospel influence, while his version of "On Green Dolphin Street" is a mix of lush chords and staccato rhythm. But it is the stunning take of "Nardis" that commands attention; it has all the drama of Evans' numerous recordings, but Drew incorporates swirling lines without rushing the tempo as Evans often did. This masterful CD of solo piano documents Kenny Drew, Jr.'s continued growth into one of the major jazz pianists of the 1990s. ~ Ken Dryden

JazzTimes (11/00, p.78) - "...Manages to breathe life into this collection of standards associated with Evans, and songs written by or for him. Drew demonstrates an appropriately sensitive touch..."

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