Kenny Barron & Dave Holland - The Art Of Conversation (2014) [Hi-Res]

The Art Of Conversation, is a stunningly beautiful duo recording from pianist Kenny Barron and bassist Dave Holland.

These two titans began performing together as a duo throughout Europe and the U.S. in 2012. One such performance at Jazz à la Villette in Paris in September of that year caught the attention of Jean-Philippe Allard, producer and Managing Director of the newly reinvigorated impulse! record label who was so moved by the concert that he encouraged Barron and Holland to head into the studio to document their profound rapport on record.

The resulting album is a showcase of their individual and combined musical ingenuity. Holland contributes four originals – “The Oracle,” “Waltz for K. W.,” “In Your Arms” and “Dr Do Right” – while Barron offers three of his own compositions: “The Only One,” “Rain,” and “Seascape.” The duo complements their originals with bracing renditions of Thelonious Monk’s “In Walked Bud,” Charlie Parker’s “Segment,” and Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington’s “Daydream.”

Throughout, Holland and Barron imbue each performance with an enormous sense of jazz history paired with a simpatico that comes from a musical relationship that stretches back 30 years. Born only three years apart, their paths crossed many times in New York during the 1960s and 70s with each developing reciprocal admiration, but they didn’t record together until Barron’s 1985 trio LP Scratch.

Both Holland and Barron have illustrated musical brilliance in the duo setting throughout their respective careers. Barron has recorded numerous critically acclaimed duo albums – many produced by Allard – with such luminaries as Stan Getz, Charlie Haden, Buster Williams, and Regina Carter. Likewise, Holland has documented duo explorations with such notable jazz pioneers as Steve Coleman and Sam Rivers.

“[Duos] afford you the opportunity to go into different directions,” states Barron, when asked why he loves the intimate yet also intimidating setting. He also explains that he revels in playing duo with bassists because it gives him a foundation to unravel exquisite voicing.

For Holland, it’s the direct and intimate interactions of just two musicians that attract him to the duo setting, noting that Barron is both a “tremendous listener as well as a tremendous player. For me, it’s a harmony lesson every time I play with him,” Holland adds. “I always love playing with musicians that I can learn from and increase my understanding of the music. And I certainly had that experience playing with Kenny.”

Kenny Barron, piano
Dave Holland, bass

01. Kenny Barron & Dave Holland - The Oracle (6:15)
02. Kenny Barron & Dave Holland - The Only One (6:22)
03. Kenny Barron & Dave Holland - Rain (7:33)
04. Kenny Barron & Dave Holland - Segment (5:59)
05. Kenny Barron & Dave Holland - Waltz For Wheeler (Dedicated To Kenny Wheeler) (6:11)
06. Kenny Barron & Dave Holland - In Walked Bud (6:22)
07. Kenny Barron & Dave Holland - In Your Arms (6:43)
08. Kenny Barron & Dave Holland - Dr Do Right (5:15)
09. Kenny Barron & Dave Holland - Seascape (6:09)
10. Kenny Barron & Dave Holland - Day Dream (7:37)