Rich sonatas of bass and piano are created by bassist Joe Quarrington teamed with pianist/composer Don Thompson, as the two explore the latter’s own penmanship and a bit extra. The series of duets have the two brooding and agonizing with some rich bowing and Chopinesque piano on “Egberto” and romantic swaying during “A Quiet Place”. Thompson is reflective on “Another Time, Another Place”, with Quarrington in rich melodic fashion for the standard “A Nightingale Sang In Berkley Square”.
There’s also an extra bonus of a bass quartet of Quarrington with Travis Harrison, Roberto Occhipinti and Joseph Phillips jabbing, bowing and soloing on the evocative “Quartet 89”. The album has a modern classical feel, but there is enough of improvisation a la Hersch or Evans that keeps the spontaneity fresh.