With: Jim Pepper (tenor & soprano saxophone), Mal Waldron (piano)
Record date: April 5,1988
Apperently Pepper’s and Waldron’s first duet on ‘Mal, Dance, & Soul’ tasted of more. They decided to do a full duo album called ‘Art of The Duo’. And just like on that first session, the chemistry is definitely there. The album consists mainly of ballads with a few fireballs in between.
Not only in between because the opening ‘Ticket to Tokyo’ really sets things on fire. It’s a hard swinging original by Mal who really plays his ass off. Pepper keeps firing fast runs and loops but Mal could easily keep up with it. The whole composition has a fantastic kind of tension. The later live version at Utopia (there titled Ticket to Utopia) is even better than this one. The version of ‘Ruby My Dear’ is another success. Pepper shows he could easily handle a Monk composition like this. He sounds at ease and Mal’s backing is very tight. I like the little ornamentations around the higher notes that Pepper play’s. His overall sound is passionate but very accessible. He plays solo tenor saxophone on ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’. That really is a song that could easily get bogged down in goofy nonsense. But this version sounds really sincere. Pepper picks up the soprano on ‘Spinning at Trixi’ which does not sound as great as his tenor playing. But I am afraid I am making an unjustified comparison to Steve Lacy, but that’s just a whole other player.
Mal’s solos on this disc are solid as a rock. He sounds inspired by Pepper’s sounds. His handling of ‘Ruby My Dear’ is thoughtful, easy and advanced at the same time. As in every duet, Mal is able to feel every step his musical partner wants to take. The choice of composition is full of variety with originals by both Pepper and Waldron, but also compositions by Monk, Tadd Dameron, Cole Porter and Gershwin. A bebop classic like Dameron’s ‘Good Bait’ get’s a whole new sound. And Mal’s solo reminds some of Dameron here and there if you listen closely. You’re No Bunny Unless Some Bunny Loves You’ (fantastic song title) is a more free effort. Now, I am not averse to a little free playing but I can’t say I really dig it as I miss a little interplay.
As with most of the Tutu records: it’s recommended to buy the cd version of this. If you go for the vinyl version you miss 4 songs. One could probably live without an alternate take of ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ but the rest of the songs is really recommended. It’s still widely available on the internet. Recommended for both fans of Mal and Jim. And also for people who just enjoy intimate sax-piano duo’s.
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