Dave Liebman & Richie Beirach - Balladscapes

Two real jazz legends - saxophonist Dave Liebman and pianist Richie Beirach - join forces in this duet, playing ballads in the smallest possible band constellation.Over the years, these two have used ballads in their performances and recordings, but this is the first all-ballad album they've done. And it's quite unusual in its approach. The program offers some originals (new and old), but includes far-ranging material from Bach, Weill, Jobim, Strayhorn, Shorter and Coltrane. Beirach and Liebman take fewer liberties with the material that one might expect and the music is better off for that restraint. This is a gorgeous, mesmerising chamber music recital. And like all great music, it bears fruit with every repeated listening.