Bill Evans

For this set, tenor and soprano saxophonist Bill Evans joins with the Andy LaVerne Trio to explore eight Cole Porter songs, plus the Evans original "A Cole Porter Flat." Rather than being a swing re-creation set, the musicians drastically reharmonized the Porter songs, reinventing the tunes and making them sound much more modern. Sometimes it works, but on other occasions it makes the songs seem like they were written by John Coltrane circa 1959. Among the changes is the use of soprano on a spacy ballad version of "I Love You," an unusual shuffle pattern on piano on "Love for Sale," "Just One of Those Things" becoming a jazz waltz, and "Night and Day" being turned into a relative of "Giant Steps." LaVerne takes some inventive solos while Evans at various times hints at Dexter Gordon (particularly on "Love for Sale") and Coltrane ("Everytime We Say Goodbye"). This is an enjoyable set, but one wishes there were more stretches of uncomplicated swinging. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide