While duo recordings are hardly rare in jazz, it is hard to think of many trombone-bass meetings. But Roswell Rudd and Mark Dresser are two veterans who are up to the challenge of keeping things interesting, playing with the feeling that only a short discussion took place before each take, using only very basic charts (if any were used at all) as a starting point. "Calypso Lite" is an engaging opener with a slightly loopy air, much like their approach to the one standard, "Don't Blame Me," a song not normally associated with humor. The two takes of "Airwalkers" feature a tense theme with Rudd's ominous muted horn and Dresser's mournful bass, while "Duality" and "Burst" are full-fledged avant-garde jazz excursions. This delightful meeting between two virtuosos will satisfy any jazz fan with open ears. - Ken Dryden
Tracks
1. Calypso Lite (Mark Dresser/Roswell Rudd)
2. Airwalkers (Take Two) (Roswell Rudd)
3. Pregnant Pauses (Mark Dresser/Roswell Rudd)
4. Roz MD (Mark Dresser)
5. Duality (Mark Dresser/Roswell Rudd)
6. Burst (Mark Dresser/Roswell Rudd)
7. Don't Blame Me (Mark Dresser/Roswell Rudd)
8. Lovers Waltz (Mark Dresser/Roswell Rudd)
9. Airwalkers (Take One) (Roswell Rudd)
ROSWELL RUDD trombone
MARK DRESSER double bass
Recorded August 4, 2004 at Nevessa Studio in Saugerties, NY
Clean Feed - CF066CD