Pianist David Haney teams up with a plethora of drummers and percussionists in a wonderfully swinging collection of duets. The teammates include Bernard Purdie, Jimmy Bennington, Giovanni Barcella, Han Bennink and Marvin “Bugalu” Smith, and they are caught together in both concert and studio settings. Interestingly enough, besides originals by the composer, there are a pair of tunes by vintage era bebopper Herbie Nichols, and both “House Party Starting” and “Pretty Prancing Woman” work wondrously well in that the clever piano lines of the tunes are joyfully appreciated by Haney while the tricky rhythmic curves are handled like a NASCAR driver by Bennington and Bennink, respectively. Except for the frisky intro by Svoboda on “Improvisagtion on a Theme by Tomas Svoboda,” the pieces are each exercises in interactive melody and swing. “Dolphy’s Hat” with Barcella is a playful romp, while “Angel Foot” is indeed a toe tapper.
Jazz duets have been around since Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang back 100 years ago, and this album keeps the tradition fresh and endearing.
Slam Productions