Joe Haider (b.1936) is accompanied on his wonderfully varied sixth album, “Waltz For Ever”, by two Swiss jazz musicians, who were born in 1980 (Claudio Struby) and 1982 respectively (Raffaele Bossard). During World War II, Haider danced the waltz with his mother. Later, he composed waltzes for each of his three wives. Now, he is continuing to “waltz further” into the end of time. The majority of the pieces on “Waltz For Ever” were composed by Haider but when selecting the three pieces from the Great American Songbook, Haider was guided by personal reminiscences. He learned to love the ballad “Darn that Dream” listening to a version by the blind Spanish pianist Tete Montoliu.

Haider used to play the song “Nature Boy”, which was made famous by Nat King Cole, in duo performances with the trumpeter Charlie Shavers. And “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye” was on his wish list after hearing a touching version by Ray Charles.