Jazz duets have been around since they started making records about 100 years ago. Here are 21st Century versions that take the tradition “to infinity and beyond!”
Wadada Leo Smith’s trumpet teams up with John Lindberg’s bass for three suites that are all free and expressive. The two part “Malachi Favors Maghostut” includes Smith gasping and brooding before the five part “Celestial Weather Suite” mixes flailing chaos with eery brooding between pizzicato and bowed bass. Clipped trumpet chirps and thumping strings on Lindberg’s “Fethers and Earth” gives room for Smith’s almost vocal horn sound. All through out there is interactive interplay, lots of communication and spontaneity that sparks but never combusts.
The Kirkastus album has a bit more variety, as Aaltonen brings forth four different woodwinds, and Haarla brings not only piano but harp, percussion and the stringed chen for a Decalogue of tracks. Aaltonen’s rich and palpable tenor gasps to the piano on the contemplative “Evening Prayer” while delivers a rich vibrato on the graceful title track. A thoughtful flute teams with dark piano musings on”Out of the Depths” while “Arie-A Song For a Lost Love” mixes romantic alto flute with Shubert-esque piano. Aaltonen’s solo intro to “Lead Me To The Rock” is a bel canto journey before Haarla’s piano finishes the course in a lilting fashion. Lots of care is felt on these pieces of intimacy.
Tum Records