Piano-soprano sax duets have only been recorded sporadically, with
Mal Waldron and
Steve Lacy likely being the among the most prolific to work in such a setting.
Bill Anschell and
Brent Jensen should revive interest in this type of pairing, because they not only complement one another's playing very well but they have the imagination to carry off each number based on little more than the bare outline of an idea.
Anschell's intricate counter-melody to
Jensen's lead voice in their inventive approach to "I'm Old Fashioned" incorporates elements of classical, bop, and calypso, to name a few. "The People Versus Miss Jones" is a wild reworking of "Have You Met Miss Jones" that retains enough of the original chords to make it identifiable, while the melody is abandoned in favor of some wild improvising. They choose a similar path in "You Aren't All That," an intricate restructuring of "All the Things You Are." Their heartfelt take of
Thelonious Monk's "Ask Me Now" and their dramatic setting of "Beautiful Love" are fresh approaches to frequently performed numbers. This excellent date merits a follow-up recording. ~ Ken Dryden