2gether by Warren Vaché and Bill Charlap

"… this is one of the great records of the CD era at least. This record is why we listen to jazz."
- Richard Cook

"… one of the most beautiful records of the year 2001 and beyond; it is already among my all-time favorites in the rarified realm of jazz duets."
- Dan Morgenstern

"The Best Album of 2001"
- Jazz Review, Critics' Choice

This studio session featuring the duo of cornetist/fluegelhornist Warren Vachéand pianist Bill Charlap deserves to rank alongside nearly any similar date recorded during the last two decades of the 20th century. Vaché has been overlooked by far too many critics (which even Wynton Marsalis acknowledged in print); while Charlap has had a little easier time with the exposure he has received as a member of the Phil Woods Quintet and recording as a leader for Blue Note. Vaché's lyricism come through, whether utilizing a mute, as on the foot patting "If I Should Lose You" or a swinging "You and the Night and the Music," or with the open horn, especially in the warm rendition of "Easy Living." Charlap not only proves himself an incredible accompanist, but that he has a sense of humor, too, especially with his lush introduction to Duke Ellington's "Prelude to a Kiss," which briefly detours into Thelonious Monk's "'Round Midnight." Although the emphasis is primarily on standards, "Nip-Hoc Waltz" (an homage to Chopin) and "Etude" (which features Vaché unaccompanied) are two fine examples of Charlap's considerable abilities as a composer. Sadly, the liner notes stick to separate biographies of each musician and don't explain what prompted them to work together. This very entertaining date will stand up very well to repeated listening.

AllMusic Review by Ken Dryden

Enjoy one of nagel heyer’s most beautiful and most successful recordings now in an even better sound quality. The music stays as good as it gets but the music is now 24 bit remastered from the original mixes. We especially kept an eye on the dynamics to make the acoustic spectrum as wide as possible.

The rest remains a record of truly beautiful music – with Warren Vaché and Bill Charlap playing so bloody good! The duet is a very special art that requires a very special empathy between the partners in what amounts to a musical balancing act – the kind of split-second collaboration that we marvel at when watching graceful trapeze artists working without a net. There’s no place to hide – every note is fully exposed.

In addition our duettists have much in common. They both love and respect good songs, sharing what Ruby Braff has so aptly called ›adoration of the melody.‹ They both know how to coax beautiful sounds from their instruments. Bill Charlap's music, for all its intricacy, is fun and it swings. The presence of Warren Vaché, another nonconformist, doubles the value of this worthy session. Together they create a moody, relaxed swinging atmosphere.

This beautifully balanced album with music full of clarity and logic received many fine reviews and awards over the last decade – so let’s continue working on the success story of this musically masterpiece.

Warren Vaché (born February 21, 1951) is a jazz trumpeter, cornetist, and flugelhornist born in Rahway, New Jersey. He came from a musical family as his father was a bassist. In 1976 he released his first album.
Like Ruby Braff and a long line of players who proceeded him, Warren Vaché is devoted to both the cornet and great melodies.
Therefore he has has some big popularity among swing audiences.