Nothing in music is as communicative as duets. Here is a recent pair of outings.
Pianist Neil Pearlman teams with saxist Dylan Sherry to create a mix of jazz and traditional sounds from various countries. Some Scottish pieces like “Laclan Dubh” mixes Sherry’s warm tenor with spacious piano, with the two getting coy on “Alasdair Mhic Cholla Ghasda.” Some unison lines between piano and sax create a joyful “Up Da Stroods” with some tenor sax subtones getting visceral on the Armenian “Castle of Kars” and some dancing soprano on Sherry’s own “ Friendly Spaces.” A wonderful stroll.
Jimmy Bennington’s drums join with Steve Cohn’s piano, voice and Japanese flute on these impressionistic pieces. With voice, the two get expressive on the foreboding “Nepalese Suite” with, some digital dexterity by Cohn mixing with military drumming on an intriguing take of “Blue In Green.” Denny Zeitlin’s “Quiet Now” as some intimate reflections while Cohn strides well and adds atmospheric flute on “A Time When I Get Back To You.” Conversant and cohesive.