Recorded in 1963, Theme from ‘The VIPS’ and Other Great Songs is a collaboration between the legendary pianist Bill Evans and the Eastern European-born arranger and composer Claus Ogerman. Evans is best known for his distinctively lyrical outings with a number of excellent piano trios; Ogerman made his mark in the jazz world by crafting arrangements for artists such as Wes Montgomery, Antonio Carlos Jobim and George Benson. Ogerman often brought the vibe of Easy Listening to the albums he worked on and it’s easy to imagine the cocktail glasses clinking when you listen to this mellow disc. On most of the tracks, Evans eschews improvisation, instead opting for straight and simple readings backed by orchestral arrangements and the occasional choir. The most affecting of these straight-up renditions is a cover of Johnny Mercer and Davis Raksin’s “Laura,” from the 1944 film by Otto Preminger. On a handful of cuts — “The Caretaker’s Theme,” “Walk On the Wild Side,” “Hollywood,” and “The Man With the Golden Arm” — Evans busts out a little, bringing spontaneity, blues feeling, and a sense of swing to the material.