The album came about when Manne and Evans were sharing a bill at New York's Village Vanguard nightclub, and Verve producer Creed Taylor proposed a studio collaboration for the two bandleaders.

The album features some classic jazz standards and two songs by Irving Berlin from the 1962 musical Mr. President.

Leonard Feather had this to say about the album in his April 11, 1963, review in DownBeat magazine: "Essentially the focus is on Evans, as it should be; yet because of the skill with which he and Manne cooperated, one is often conscious that an important interplay is involved, one that lifts the results far out of the normal piano-with-rhythm class.

"[2] Reviewing the album for AllMusic, David Nathan wrote: "[Evans'] playing seemed lighter, freer, and more relaxed than it had for a while....

Listening to these three [Evans, Manne, Budwig], it's clear that everyone was having a good time and simply enjoying being relieved of their duties with their regular combos, even if for just one day.