Charles Lloyd, Jason Moran, Hagar's Song

Charles Lloyd sounds as good as ever, maybe even better. Jason Moran always seems to sound good. He is a pianist's pianist. Jason has worked with Lloyd's band in recent years but to my knowledge never recorded with him as a twosome. Put them both together for a series of duets and you have Hagar's Song (ECM B0018001-02), a good thing indeed.

The tenor-piano team tackle of wide variety of material, from Earl Hines's "Rosetta" to Brian Wilson's "God Only Knows," and from Duke's "Mood Indigo" to a tribute to Levon Helm, with a version of Dylan's "I Shall Be Released."

Lloyd's "Hagar Suite" forms the core of this set. It comes to terms with the life of his great-great grandmother, who was sold into slavery at the age of ten. It is a moving tribute.

This is music with a timelessness. It is neither new nor old, but both. It is a Lloyd-Moran representation of a wide musical tradition, of historic tragedy, of being alive today within tradition and aware of history. Hagar's Song is highly personal and often sublime.

Eddie Daniels - Roger Kellaway Live at the Library of Congress

Here are two players who have gone their own way throughout their careers. Both Eddie Daniels and Roger Kellaway have roots in swing and modern jazz. They have formidable technical skills and impeccable musicality.

They joined together for some very lively clarinet-piano duets at the Library of Congress this past year. The album that resulted is logically called Live at the Library of Congress (IPO 1021).

It's a mix of standards and originals, done with freedom, exuberance and inspiration. These are two players who take advantage of their long seasoning to produce music that is primed and has a free-depth to it that comes after many years of practicing the improvisatory arts. And the interplay is pretty remarkable too. Two masters in their prime....

Very recommended.