Bill Evans Intuition CD

Personnel: Bill Evans (piano); Eddie Gomez (bass).
Recorded at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California from November 7-10, 1974. Originally released on Fantasy (9475). Includes liner notes by George Cleve.
Digitally remastered by Phil De Lancie (1990, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California.
Composer: Claus Ogerman.
Personnel: Bill Evans (piano).
Liner Note Author: George Cleve.
Recording information: Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA (11/07/1974-11/10/1974).
Unknown Contributor Role: Bill Evans .
After having played together on a regular basis for eight years, it is not surprising that this set of duets by pianist Bill Evans and bassist Eddie Gomez are intuitive and bordering on the telepathic. The material is quite fresh. Evans might have recorded "Invitation" and "Show-Type Tune" previously but the other six songs were getting their debut in his hands. Whether it be "Hi Lili, Hi Lo," Claus Ogerman's "A Face Without a Name," Steve Swallow's "Falling Grace" or "Blue Serge," the sensitive and generally introspective playing on this CD reissue definitely holds one's interest. ~ Scott Yanow
The fullness of this duet album's sound suffers only slightly from the lack of a drummer, compensating with deeply satisfying intuitive interplay between pianist Evans and longtime collaborator Gomez. Evans experiments on INTUITION with the electric Fender-Rhodes piano for his original tunes, "Show-Type Tune" and "Are You All the Things," but he is at his most assertive and polished when playing acoustic piano. Particular standouts are the two songs by Bronislau Kaper, the romantic ballad "Invitation," and, with particular care and expression, the theme "Hi Lili, Hi Lo," from the musical "Lili." Gomez is a full participant, using the bass the way he did as a member of the Bill Evans Trio, making himself an indispensable part of the equation. INTUITION is a strongly empathetic album which memorializes a deep musical connection between two jazz greats.