Bob James & Earl Klugh - Cool (1992)

This is the third collaboration between two jazz veterans. Pianist James and guitarist Klugh complement each other well on this far-reaching set. Bob James and Earl Klugh show true fusion in their music. To be fair, this album is not strictly a duet, however, as the pair are accompanied by a band of crack musicians. The music is brilliant, smooth jazz at its best, as you'd expect from these two totally accomplished musicians and the rest of their set. "COOL" takes the listener on an extremely relaxing journey on this 1992 release. James' soft-edged keyboards blend effortlessly with Klugh's acoustic guitar, while Harvey Mason maintains steady, soft percussion in the background, and bassist Gary King jams gently along. A true collaborative effort, all but two of the 12 tracks were composed by either James or Klugh, and they accompany one another throughout the recording. For me there are three top-notch arrangements, Klugh's "The Sponge," "New York Samba," and James' "The Night That Love Came Back". The fare is light, breezy, beautiful melody and delicate sound, followed by one of the mellowest sounds produced to date. "Cool" Piano, Guitar, Bass, Percussion, all masterfully blended together to make a rich mellow sound.~Scooby Doo