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Title: Two sides of the master.
Review: A rare, rare import is this one, pairing two Bill Evans albums of classic flute-and-piano jazz collaborations supported by Chuck Israels on bass and Paul Motian on drums. Evans, the master of understated piano, provides both complementary and contrasting relief, depending on the flutist in the spotlight. Steig is aggressive. Frequent overblowing, double-tonguing, and even singing into the flute give his style a harder edge than one normally encounters on this pastoral instrument. Coupling of these techniques with altered tempos (e.g., "Autumn Leaves" as a fast swing) puts Evans in Stein's crosshairs; Evans' inherent placid style is often challenged and even disturbed. Mann, on the other hand, is an impressionist through and through, as he blends rather than batters. Listen to his takes on "Nirvana," "Gymnopedie," or "Wllow Weep for Me" to hear how intuition, anticipation, and empathetic listening all contribute to an unparalleled creative synergy.
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