This set of duets by pianist
Bobo Stenson and saxophonist
Lennart Aberg is quite personal, mostly very introspective, lyrical, thoughtful, and sometimes a bit dreary. Both of the players have strong technique but chose to emphasize their quieter sides for this project. Although there are some lively moments on
Thelonious Monk's "Trinkle Tinkle," most of the pieces are like "Fragment An Sich," moving slowly and with pessimism. The combination works well on some selections (particularly "Nature Boy," "Begali Blue," and
Lars Gullin's ballad "Gabriella"), but gets a bit tiresome when heard for a full CD. It is probably best to consume this rather downbeat set of duos just a few songs at a time. ~ Scott Yanow