Eddie Gomez & Cesarius Alvim: Forever

Bassist Eddie Gomez and pianist Cesarius Alvim are old friends. How old? They were introduced through Bill Evans. As far as friendships go, that’s pretty solid. The bond between these two jazz cats makes for a similarly solid, and therefore safe, duet album. Forever is not exactly exciting stuff, but that’s not where these guys hedge their bets. Instead it relies on the unwritten and unspoken ties between two old men who can perform a solemn set with almost no rehearsal. Still, it’s hard to tell when a Wayne Shorter or Rogers & Hart cover stops and a Gomez or Alvim original begins.