This is a not very challenging, but thoroughly charming, summit meeting between a blues guitar master and a jazz guitar legend. Taking four classic swing tunes ("Just Squeeze Me," "Avalon," "Stuffy," and, inevitably, "Flyin' Home"), two
Robillard originals, and a jointly composed slow blues, and helped out by bassist Marty Ballou and drummer Marty Richards,
Duke Robillard and
Herb Ellis deliver a 48-minute swing guitar master class,
Conversations in Swing Guitar.
Ellis comes from jazz and
Robillard from the blues, so their approaches are just distinct enough to keep things interesting; although both play with a clean, fat jazz tone and no one ever really hauls off and shreds,
Robillard tends towards bent notes and funky chordal things while
Ellis thinks a bit more in terms of long lines and florid ornamentation. Every so often you might find yourself wishing that the edges were just a bit rougher, but both of these guys are clearly having a great old time, and you will too. ~ Rick Anderson