“You Must Believe in Spring – Tony Bennett and Bill Evans 40 Years Later” Comes to the Aster

The Larry McDonough Quartet (LMQ) will celebrate the two recordings of legendary pianist and composer Bill Evans and vocalist Tony Bennett. LMQ has performed the show at Jazz Central, the Dakota, and Vieux Carré to enthusiastic crowds.

Bill Evans rarely performed with singers, so it was big news to some in the jazz community when Evans and Bennett recorded and released “The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album” in 1975. The album included pieces each had done separately, such as Waltz for Debby (Evans) and The Touch of Your Lips (Bennett). In 1976 they recorded “Together Again” for release in 1977.

Both albums showed Evans’ skill in accompanying a vocalist while adding the complexities that he displayed in his solo and ensemble performances, and exhibited Bennett’s expressive range from bold and commanding to soft and delicate. Unfortunately, the albums flew under the radar screen of the larger jazz scene with the popularity of the jazz fusion of Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Weather Report, Miles Davis, and John McLaughlin.

This is not a traditional “tribute” show where musicians imitate great artists. No one sings like Bennett and no one plays like Evans. Each piece they recorded together will be presented with beginnings similar to the recorded versions, but where they go from there cannot be predicted.
Larry will take on the challenging roles of both Evans and Bennett to educate younger listeners about these great artists and to remind seasoned listeners of this pair who never recorded together again. Evans died in 1980. Tony Bennett is 91 years old, lives in New York City, and continues to perform.

Joining Larry will be sax player and award-winning poet Richard Terrill, bassist Jim Bierma and drummer Dean White. In the first set, the Larry McDonough Quartet will perform a sample of pieces from the two albums, each beginning with just voice and piano and other members of the ensemble joining through the piece. Selections will include The Touch of Your Lips, Some Other Time, My Foolish Heart, Waltz for Debby, Make Someone Happy, You Don’t Know What Love Is, You’re Nearer, and You Must Believe in Spring.

In the second set, they will add pieces that Evans and Bennett recorded separately but never together, including We Will Meet Again, Detour Ahead, I’ll Be Seeing You, and I Will Say Goodbye. Perhaps Evans and Bennett would have recorded these songs together if Evans had lived longer.

Come see and hear what Evans and Bennett did and what might have been.

Larry McDonough, Vocals and Piano
Richard Terrill, Saxes and Poetry
Jim Bierma, Bass
Dean White, Drums

You Must Believe in Spring – Sample
http://larrymcdonoughjazz.homestead.com/YouMustBelieveinSpring-Sample.html

Recommended by Andrea Canter, JazzINK; Dan Emerson, St. Paul Pioneer Press; Britt Robson, Star Tribune; Jazz Police; and KBEM Jazz88 FM Radio.
http://larrymcdonoughjazz.homestead.com/YouMustBelieveinSpringintheMedia.html

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Here are a couple of great finds on YouTube about Bennett and Evans. Film composer Evan Evans, son of Bill Evans, posted a video of interviews with Bennett and others about the collaboration.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MselAkjXbM

A rarely seen 1977 Canadian Broadcast Corporation Concert now is on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LIW7q_cFeA&feature=youtu.be

Marc Myers of JazzWax tells the story behind the show.
http://www.jazzwax.com/2016/02/video-evans-and-bennett.html

Families and students are welcome.

Music 8-10pm

RESERVATIONS WORK LIKE ADVANCE TICKETS
Call 612-379-3138 to save your spot!
$8 covers on the tab.