You think you know piano duos and duets? Here are a trio of duets that will give you a run for the money.
Going back to the days of twin pianos giving barrelhouse boogie woogie blues, the team of Bob Baldori and Arthur Migliazza give eight beats the bar and beyond on this foot stomping runaway train. They rumble on “Honky Tonk Train,” go into overdrive for “Boogie stomp and get Longhair’d for “Rockin’ Pneumonia.” Baldori even does some streetwise singing and blows in from Chicago with his harp on “Shake That Boogie” and a rollicking “Mojo.” These guys get your feet moving!
Ran Blake teams with Claire Ritter for a concert at Queens University of Charlotte for a series of duets as well as taking time out for some solo excursions while adding tenor saxist Kent O’Doherty for a few cameos. The twenty concise tunes mix impressionism, free flowing expressionism and a dash of bopping Monk, with the mood surprisingly rich in lyricism. The 88 ivories have fun with “Blue Monk” and do a deconstruct of “Over The Rainbow” while the fingers chime along for “Eclipse Orange.” Blake waves in on a “Brazil Medley” and splashes in on “Improvisation on Selma” as Ritter goes Satie for “Emerald and the Breeze.” O’Doherty fits in well on Monk’s joyful “I Mean You” and kinetic “Hightop Sneaker” and while the team seems to drift, they always stay anchored in lyricism and post bop. A good night out!
The duet Blue Standard consists of pianist Jesse Whiteley and vocalist Raoul Bhaneja, who also throws in some harmonica work on the upbeat “Cray Rhythm.” Most of the time, the two work out classy reads such as the clearly delivered “A Good Thing” and the agonizing lament “A Man Ain’t Supposed to Cry.” Bhaneja gives a strong and dramatic intro before sliding into a tender “When I Fall In Love,” and the two have a good natured stroll on “Walkin’ MY Baby Back Home.” Lots of class and substance to boot.