This album came about through a fortuitous convergence of circumstances. Shelly Manne & His Men were appearing at New York's Village Vanguard, sharing the bill with
the Bill Evans Trio. Getting Riverside's permission to let the pianist participate,
Creed Taylor set up a session at
Rudy Van Gelder's studio with
Evans and
Manne sharing top billing.
Manne's bass player,
Monty Budwig, made up the trio. This was a busman's holiday for
Evans, who was freed from the musical parameters he had set for his then-current trio. The result is that his playing seemed lighter, freer, and more relaxed than it had for a while. The album kicks off with a jaunty version of
Irving Berlin's "The Washington Twist" from the unsuccessful Mr. President, with
Budwig sharing the honors with
Evans as much as
Manne.
Manne spends most of his time driving
Evans into more diminished and sharper playing than was usually
Evans' wont. Another relatively unfamiliar
Berlin work, "Let's Go Back to the Waltz," gives full reign to
Evans' lyricism. The longest tune on the set is an audacious, almost lampooned version of "With a Song in My Heart" with light chordal phrasing that pretty much characterized much of the tone coming from this session. Listening to these three, it's clear that everyone was having a good time and simply enjoying being relieved of their duties with their regular combos, even if for just one day. ~ Dave Nathan