''Affinity'' is an album by American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

pianist Bill Evans released in 1979, featuring Belgian harmonica player

Toots Thielemans Jean-Baptiste Frédéric Isidor, Baron Thielemans (29 April 1922 – 22 August 2016), known professionally as Toots Thielemans, was a Belgian jazz musician. He was mostly known for his chromatic harmonica playing, as well as his guitar and whistl ...

. Bill Evans plays a Rhodes piano on many of the tracks. It is the recording debut for bassist Marc Johnson.

Reception

With the exception of a four star Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide review, the majority of recorded reception for the Affinity album came significantly later than its original release. Overall, reviewers maintain positive notes about the work. Scott Yanow on Allmusic says, "Excellent if not essential music that Evans generally uplifts".

Track listing

# "I Do It for Your Love" ( Paul Simon) – 7:16 # "Sno' Peas" (

Phil Markowitz Phil Markowitz (born September 6, 1952 in Brooklyn, New York) is a jazz pianist and educator. Discography As leader * ''Sno' Peas'' (Ken Music, 1991) * ''In the Woods'' (Passsage, 1996) * ''Taxi Ride'' (Passsage, 1998) * ''Catalysis'' (Sunnyside, ...

) – 5:51 # "

This Is All I Ask "This Is All I Ask" is a popular song written by Gordon Jenkins in 1958. Jenkins considered this his finest composition, and he recorded it in arrangements he wrote for Nat King Cole, Harry Nilsson, Tiny Tim (musician), Tiny Tim, Tony Bennett, and ...

" (

Gordon Jenkins Gordon Hill Jenkins (May 12, 1910 – May 1, 1984) was an American arranger, composer, and pianist who was influential in popular music in the 1940s and 1950s. Jenkins worked with The Andrews Sisters, Johnny Cash, The Weavers, Frank Sinatra, Lo ...

) – 4:14 # " Days of Wine and Roses" (

Henry Mancini Henry Mancini ( ; born Enrico Nicola Mancini, ; April 16, 1924 – June 14, 1994) was an American composer, conductor, arranger, pianist and flautist. Often cited as one of the greatest composers in the history of film, he won four Academy Award ...

, Johnny Mercer) – 6:40 # "Jesus' Last Ballad" ( Gianni Bedori) – 5:52 # "Tomato Kiss" ( Larry Schneider) – 5:17 # "The Other Side of Midnight (Noelle's Theme)" (

Michel Legrand Michel Jean Legrand (; 24 February 1932 – 26 January 2019) was a French musical composer, arranger, conductor, and jazz pianist. Legrand was a prolific composer, having written over 200 film and television scores, in addition to many son ...

) – 3:17 # " Blue in Green" (

Miles Davis Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Davis adopted a variety of musi ...

, Bill Evans) – 4:09 # " Body & Soul" (

Edward Heyman Edward Heyman (March 14, 1907October 16, 1981) was an American lyricist and producer, best known for his lyrics to " Body and Soul," "When I Fall in Love," and " For Sentimental Reasons." He also contributed to a number of songs for films. Biog ...

Robert Sour The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, hono ...

, Frank Eyton, Johnny Green) – 6:16

Personnel

* Bill Evans – piano, keyboards * Marc Johnson – bass * Eliot Zigmund – drums * Larry Schneider – flute, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone *

– harmonica Production notes * Helen Keane – producer *Frank Laico – engineer

Chart positions

References

External links

The Bill Evans Memorial Library
Bill Evans albums Toots Thielemans albums 1979 albums Warner Records albums {{1970s-jazz-album-stub