Beginning in 2012, pianist
Kenny Barron and bassist
Dave Holland formed a duo partnership that found them performing live all around the world. The duo's 2014 studio album,
The Art of Conversation, showcases this collaboration with a simple, beautifully understated mix of standards and original compositions. Journeyman solo artists and bandleaders in their own right, both
Barron and
Holland are virtuoso musicians who've made their mark playing disparate, if compatible, styles of jazz. On one hand,
Barron, with his impeccable technique and lyrical taste, is an influential master of straight-ahead post-bop jazz. On the other hand,
Holland, also blessed with imposing technique, has moved with deft ease between avant-garde jazz, athletic post-bop, and straight-ahead sessions. What they share is a thoughtful, measured precision and attention to detail, as well as empathetic musical ears that allow for deep musical interplay. All of which is on display here. There's a palpable sense on
The Art of Conversation that both
Barron and
Holland have a deep respect for songs and the composer's original intent. However, that doesn't mean they don't take such songs as
Thelonious Monk's "In Walked Bud" and
Billy Strayhorn's "Daydream" and make them their own. This balance between respecting the composer and allowing for individual interpretation is especially highlighted on a handful of their own original compositions, including
Barron's languid and elegiac "Rain," on which
Holland takes the melody, and
Holland's similarly dreamlike ballad "In Your Arms," on which
Barron takes the helm. Ultimately, it's this kind of sympathetic collaboration, mutual respect, and creative synergy that makes
The Art of Conversation such a joy to listen to. ~ Matt Collar