Pianist
Kirk Lightsey and bassist
Rufus Reid first played together on a regular basis as members of
Dexter Gordon's quartet in the 1980s. Their duo session is particularly special due to the tight musical communication between the two players, and the fact that it took place at Bradley's. Open for 25 years in New York and usually featuring piano/bass duos, Bradley's was one of the Big Apple's top after-hours clubs and a place for pianists to play before their peers.
Lightsey and
Reid (who is showcased on
Benny Golson's "From Dream to Dream") explore seven sophisticated compositions, all but
Johnny Mandel's "A Time for Love" originating in the jazz world. The two musicians are heard at the top of their game (which two decades later they happily still are) and come up with an endless series of fresh variations, including on
Wayne Shorter's haunting "Speak No Evil" and a cooking rendition of "Oleo." ~ Scott Yanow