Description AllMusic Review by Scott YanowAlso 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."John Lewis (2), Percy Heath / Bill Perkins, Chico Hamilton, Jim Hall ‎– Grand Encounter: 2° East - 3° WestLabel:Pacific Jazz ‎– PJ-1217Format:Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono, Deep GrooveCountry:USReleased:Nov 1956Genre:JazzStyle:Bop, Cool JazzTracklistHide CreditsA1Love Me Or Leave MeWritten-By – Kahn*, Donaldson*8:18A2I Can't Get StartedWritten-By – Gershwin*, Duke*3:31A3Easy LivingWritten-By – Robin*, Rainger*4:13B1Two Degrees East - Three Degrees WestWritten-By – John Lewis (2)6:07B2SkylarkWritten-By – Carmichael*, Mercer*3:06B3Almost Like Being In LoveWritten-By – Loewe - Lerner*9:26Companies, etc.Record Company – Pacific Jazz RecordsPressed By – RCA Records Pressing Plant, HollywoodPublished By – BVC MusicPublished By – Chappell MusicPublished By – Famous Music (3)Published By – Acorn MusicPublished By – Simon MusicPublished By – Sam Fox MusicCreditsBass – Percy HeathDrums – Chico HamiltonGuitar – Jim HallLiner Notes – Whitney BalliettPhotography By – William ClaxtonPiano – John Lewis (2)Producer – Richard BockTenor Saxophone – Bill PerkinsNotesAll selections are monaural. Recorded in Los Angeles on February 10, 1956. GOLDMINE GRADING MINT ---- It should appear to be perfect. No scuffs or scratches, blotches or stains, labels or writing, tears or splits. Mint means perfect. NEAR MINT ---- Otherwise mint but has one or two tiny inconsequential flaws that do not affect play. Covers should be close to perfect with minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident: slight ring-wear, minor denting to a corner, or writing on the cover should all be noted properly. VERY GOOD PLUS ---- The record has been handled and played infrequently or very carefully. Not too far from perfect. On a disc, there may be light paper scuffs from sliding in and out of a sleeve or the vinyl or some of the original luster may be lost. A slight scratch that did not affect play would be acceptably VG+ for most collectors. VERY GOOD ---- Record displays visible signs of handling and playing, such as loss of vinyl luster, light surface scratches, groove wear and spindle trails. Some audible surface noise, but should not overwhelm the musical experience. Usually a cover is VG when one or two of these problems are evident: ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains, etc. GOOD ---- Well played with little luster and significant surface noise. Despite defects, record should still play all the way through without skipping. Several cover flaws will be apparent, but should not obliterate the artwork. POOR ---- Any record or cover that does not qualify for the above "Good" grading should be seen as Poor. Several cover flaws.