A stunningly beautiful duo recording from pianist Kenny Barron and bassist Dave Holland, The Art of Conversation, is a showcase of their individual and combined musical ingenuity.

These two titans began performing together as a duo througout Europe and the U.S. in 2012. one such performance at Jazz a la Villette in paris in September of that year caught the attention of Jean-Philippe Allard, producer and Managing Diector of the newly reinvigorated impulse! rcord label who was so moved by the concert that he encouraged Barron and Holland to had 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 compliments 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 suring the 1960s and 70s with each developing reciprocal admiration, but they didn't record together until Barron's 1985 trio LP Scratch.

 Pick up your copy of The Art of Conversation at McNally Robinson Grant Park. Just look for the Classic 107 display in the music department.

Tune in the first Thursday of every month when host Neil Coligan and McNally Robinson's Andy Morton present the Jazz recording of the month on Jazz After 9.