John Lewis / Grand Encounter: 2 Degrees East-3 Degrees West

AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

Also reissued as 2 Degrees East, 3 Degrees West and occasionally listed under tenor saxophonist Bill Perkins' name, this classic session is the ultimate in cool jazz. Perkins' mellow tone matches quite well with the quiet but inwardly passionate playing of pianist John Lewis, guitarist Jim Hall, bassist Percy Heath, and drummer Chico Hamilton. Lewis is featured with the rhythm section on "I Can't Get Started," Hall is added for "Skylark," and the full group plays three standards plus Lewis' memorable (and atmospheric) "2 Degrees East, 3 Degrees West."

Grand Encounter (subtitled 2° East / 3° West) is an album by pianist and composer John Lewis with saxophonist Bill Perkins, guitarist Jim Hall, bassist Percy Heath and drummer Chico Hamilton recorded for the Pacific Jazz label in 1956.^[1][2] The subtitle refers to the groups mix of East Coast (Lewis and Heath) and West Coast (Perkins, Hall and Hamiton) musicians.

Track listing 

1. "Love Me or Leave Me" (Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn) - 8:18
2. "I Can't Get Started" (Vernon Duke, Ira Gershwin) - 3:31
3. "Easy Living" (Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin) - 4:13
4. "Two Degrees East - Three Degrees West" (John Lewis) - 6:07
5. "Skylark" (Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer) - 3:06
6. "Almost Like Being in Love" (Frederick Loewe, Alan Jay Lerner) - 9:26

Personnel 

• John Lewis - piano
• Bill Perkins - tenor saxophone
• Jim Hall - guitar
• Percy Heath - bass
• Chico Hamilton - drums

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