Old Friends

by Scott YanowAndre Previn's "jazz comeback" has been a welcome event even though he clearly regards his jazz playing as an occasional affair. It is to Previn's great credit that when he plays improvised music he sounds like a fulltime jazz pianist. This trio outing with guitarist Mundell Lowe and bassist Ray Brown was his third jazz date of the period and features the veteran players swinging standards lightly but with passion. A medley has unaccompanied solos by each of the musicians; other highlights include cooking versions of "Stompin' at the Savoy," "One O'Clock Jump," "Topsy" and "Sweet Georgia Brown" in addition to some heartfelt ballad renditions.