Ne Me Quitte Pas (1986)

'A supple, driving rhythm section featuring pianist Fred Hersch, bassist Marc Johnson, and drummer Joey Baron gives Thielemans sufficient support to float his mastery at will. He pleads, prods and probes, begs, borrows and steals on the gentle, bittersweet title track by Jacques Brel. Here, as well as on "Blue 'n Green which pleasingly morphs into "All Blues, as on the original Miles Davis classicHersch vividly demonstrates the "harmonic and pianistic colors that so appeals to Thielemans. Baron is a chameleon who feels comfortable under the skin of many a rhythmic style, but he performs best when he rides and drops bombs during a fast scorcher, like the double-time section of "All Blues. Styles associated with Scott LaFaro, George Mraz, and Eddie Gomez all show up in Marc Johnson's playing, with some Sam Jones-like bippity Bong Dong ba-di-ba-de Ong bong for good measure. Johnson's synthesis is refreshing'. (www.allaboutjazz.com).