Although
André Previn had not recorded a regular jazz album in 27 years at this point in time (discounting a pair of
Itzhak Perlman sessions featuring
Previn's compositions), the great majority of the performances on this trio set with guitarist
Joe Pass and bassist
Ray Brown are first takes.
Previn took time off from his busy schedule in the classical music world to return briefly to jazz, his first love. The results are often magical.
Previn,
Pass and
Brown play together as if they had been touring as a group for years. The pianist is generous with solo space and
Pass' solos are sometimes exhilarating. For
Previn, it is as if the previous three decades did not occur for he plays in a style little changed from 1960, displaying an
Oscar Peterson influence mixed in with touches of
Lennie Tristano and
Bill Evans' chording, performing ten standards and his own "One for Bunz." Highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow