Bennett / Evans 1975 Album

Craig T. Olson is at the Dunsmore Jazz Room on Saturday, October 24, leading a tribute to the 1975 album Tony Bennett / Bill Evans. It's a Crooners Supper Club presentation, and the set runs through the standards that defined that record: 'Young and Foolish', 'The Touch of Your Lips', 'Some Other Time', 'When In Rome', 'We'll Be Together Again', 'Waltz for Debby', 'But Beautiful', and 'Here's That Rainy Day'.

Olson has spent five decades singing, playing, writing, and recording across the musical landscape, and he's brought in a select group of friends for this one. On piano is Phil Aaron, with Billy Peterson on upright bass and Kenni Holmen on reeds. He describes his approach to the material as timeless, weaving stories and letting the players fill the spaces.

There's a nice bit of history behind the project. The original 1975 album brought together Tony Bennett, one of the great American pop singers, and Bill Evans, one of the most influential jazz pianists of the twentieth century. It was a meeting of two different worlds—the crooner and the jazz master—and that's the same spirit Olson is working with here. Bruce Hornsby once told him, 'You sound great man. Loved the Tony Bennett!'

The show runs from 5:30 PM to 7 PM, about an hour and a half, and it's open to all ages. Doors open at 4:30 PM for dinner and drink service, so you can get settled before the music starts. Tickets are $30 to $40, and there's free parking.