Piano-guitar duets are a rare beast in a
jazz setting and can quickly turn ugly if cooperation isn't at the forefront. Most memorable piano-guitar recording sessions involved the meeting of two masters, such as
Bill Evans with
Jim Hall and
Oscar Peterson with
Joe Pass. But guitarist
Frank Potenza and pianist
Shelly Berg not only know how to blend together and give each other breathing room for solos, but they are definitely masters of their instruments as well. All of the performances are in real time; nearly every one is a first take, with no overdubs or editing.
Potenza gained national notice as a member of the final edition of the
Gene Harris Quartet, while
Berg drew critical acclaim for his ambitious CD tribute to
Oscar Peterson (teaming up with ex-
Peterson sidemen
Ray Brown and
Ed Thigpen), while both men have greatly contributed to
jazz education through their teaching at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California. While they have often played duo performances live, this is the first documentation of their duo work.
"Wonder Why," a gem of a song that has been all but ignored for a long time, is a perfect example of how easily they trade off with one another in a jaunty setting. Following it is a brisk, playful take of
Fats Waller's
"Jitterbug Waltz," in which
Berg shows off his considerable
stride chops a bit, though they also incorporate a bit of
bop.
Potenza's fluid attack is a highlight of
Thad Jones'
"Three and One," while their rollicking revival of
Ray Bryant's unjustly obscure cooker
"Tonk" has plenty of soul.
Berg's
"Oil and Water," the sole original of the date, is full of sudden twists. This brilliant musical partnership is one that not only merits a follow-up recording, but a series of such outings. ~ Ken Dryden
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