Personnel: Nancy King: vocals; Fred Hersch: piano. Tracks:There's A Small Hotel; I Fall In Love Too Easily; Little Suede Shoes/Day By Day; Everything Happens To Me; Ain't Misbehavin'; Useless Landscape (Inutil Paisagem); There Will Never Be Another You; Autumn In New York; Four.

    Two of the great master’s of our time have created a recording that I’m going urge everyone to check out. This music is not only entertaining, but profound. I can’t remember when a duo recording captured my attention and tickled my curiosity on every track for some time. These are two musicians who not limited by their instrument, but rather, musicians who have reached a state of openness that a constant state of creativity flows on every note.
    

The first track grabs you. There’s A Small Hotel, both take great solos, but it’s not just the improvisation, it’s the conversation. You’ll hear King listen so intently to what Hersch plays, and she adds the little things, frankly throughout this recording, through background or counterpoint. Her contributions are breathtaking. There are no wasted notes, everything has unique purpose and intent.
  

 Fred is just a master in this type of setting. I believe there is no one better, he can communicate so directly to his listening audience. Everything he plays is so completely conversational. His range of dynamics are incredible.  There are many examples of this on this disc, but listen to when he brings Nancy into to her solo’s.  For example on, I Fall in love Too Easily, he takes this marvelous improvisation, and then with a true dynamic pyramid, he brings the music to a perfect entrance for Nancy both dynamically and emotionally. Nancy thrives on this exchange. She then takes the chorus and creates a wonderful verse-improvisation that is truly stunning.
  

 Fred is not just a great soloist in this musical setting, but his sense of ensemble is truly remarkable. I’d have to say the tempting thing for any artist who’s out there looking for the artist to hire for a recording, is would you really want to share this great master with the rest of the rhythm section? He can create mood, emotion and setting like no other human being on the earth at this present time.
    

Then when you put Hersch with another like Nancy King, man, is just instant marriage! I’ve heard Nancy in other settings, and have always thought she was possibly best jazz vocalist of our time. The reason I thought this, is she has such a great feel for the jazz phrase, improvising with the voice was always harmonically rich and her style really fit any instrumental ensemble.
  

However in this recording, I see even more range to her creativity. I never realized the amazing sound she produces, especially with such beautiful dynamics. Her sound just get’s more beautiful at the soft dynamics. Her control is astonishing, and beauty just transcends from her soul.
    

Everything cut on this disc is a gem. Let’s face it, most of our favorite recordings usually have some peeks and valley’s. That is just not the case here. From King’s creative solo in Jobim’s If you Ever Come to Me, where she stretches range and diverse dynamic levels to Herch’s marvelous interpretation on Autumn in NY, where the journey of his thought is communicate so beautifully, this album has the qualities of greatness. It sets the bar for all of the rest of us!
Please support these master artists by purchasing this disc. For more information, please visit: NancyKingJazz.com
FredHersch.com
Maxjazz Records