Search - Roger Kellaway, Red Mitchell :: Concord Duo Series 1

Sensational

David Saemann | 06/09/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well, if a jazz album at least 1/5 filled with bass solos is not your idea of nirvana, then this album is not for you. If, however, you like beautifully proportioned jazz presented by two skilled and unjaded veterans, you've come to the right place. I had never heard Roger Kellaway before, although I knew the name. He is simply a brilliant improviser, playing with zest and terrific technical command. His performance on this disc gets better every time I hear it, revealing layer upon layer of fine musical thought. Red Mitchell I knew from his days with Andre Previn in the '50's and '60's. He is a marvellously skillful and witty player, with a full sound and a terrific lyrical sense in his solos. This set is a reminder that others, such as Andre Previn and David Finck, have been recording, too, in the piano and bass format, which, with the right players, offers an open sound and much musical freedom. With vets like Kellaway and Mitchell, the whole thing is as fresh as today's soup. Also, the off the cuff remarks on this live set give you a real feel for how much the performers were enjoying themselves. What a shame this was Red Mitchell's last recording!"