While duo recordings are hardly rare in jazz, it is hard to think of many trombone-bass meetings. But
Roswell Rudd and
Mark Dresser are two veterans who are up to the challenge of keeping things interesting, playing with the feeling that only a short discussion took place before each take, using only very basic charts (if any were used at all) as a starting point. "Calypso Lite" is an engaging opener with a slightly loopy air, much like their approach to the one standard, "Don't Blame Me," a song not normally associated with humor. The two takes of "Airwalkers" feature a tense theme with
Rudd's ominous muted horn and
Dresser's mournful bass, while "Duality" and "Burst" are full-fledged avant-garde jazz excursions. This delightful meeting between two virtuosos will satisfy any jazz fan with open ears. ~ Ken Dryden