This set of duets by pianist
Borah Bergman and altoist
Oliver Lake (which was recorded live at the Knitting Factory) is full of passion but not much communication.
Lake (who doubles on soprano) and
Bergman both improvise quite freely but rarely seem to connect. The five pieces (all but the "Blue Tree" time in between 9:58 and 14:33) have their moments of interest but it is almost as if one were hearing two unrelated performances at the same time.
Bergman's dense piano voicings and
Lake's bluish alto seem quite unaware of each other's existence, and Bill Shoemaker's overly complex liner notes certainly will not help listeners to appreciate this inconclusive and generally disturbing music! ~ Scott Yanow