Pianist Kenny Drew is accompanied by fellow expatriate drummer Ed Thigpen and the talented young bassist Mads Vinding on these 1981 sessions. The leader continued to grow as a player during his years living in Europe, evolving from a strong bop pianist into something more. He opens "Alone Together" with a tense, evocative solo before returning to familiar territory as the rhythm section joins him. His sprightly, brisk take of "How Are Things in Glocca Mora" is a nice change from the usual arrangements, with Vinding's walking bass prominent in the mix. The leader's two originals include the snappy "Evening in the Park" and the lush, intimate ballad "Your Soft Eyes." This rewarding CD seems to have been deleted from Soul Note's catalog, so it is well worth tracking down. - Ken Dryden
Tracks
01. Forgotten But Not Gone (Ernie Wikins)
02. Alone Together (Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz)
03. Your Soft Eyes (Kenny Drew)
04. Evening In The Park (Kenny Drew)
05. How Are Things In Glocca Morra? (B. Lane / Y. Harburg)
06. Mads' Blues (Mads Vinding)
KENNY DREW paino
MADS VINDING bass
ED THIGPEN drums
Recorded November 25 & 26, 1981 at Barigozzi Studios, Milano
Soul Note 121 031 - 2