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review by Bill Binkelman I have no doubt that when some of you find out this is an album of duets by an electric (jazz) guitarist and a harmonica player, you'll stop reading right away. Boy, will that be your loss! Bruce Arnold (guitar) and Olivier Ker Ourio (harmonica) display a unique and synergistic musical vision on this remarkable recording which would have sky-rocketed into my top ten of last year had I listened to it earlier. What an amazing sound these two produce! Whether pirouetting around one another playing the same melody with subtle shades of difference, or trading moments in the solo spotlight while the other adds background textures and accompaniment, Arnold and Ker Ourio are two performers with a grasp of nuance and technique that shines through everywhere on this exceptional CD. Tracks vary in length from the ultra-short "Spuge Jam" (at 1:51) to "Release" at 5:18, and the mood also swings from the upbeat "Spurge" which swings and sways with delightful abandon to the airy and spacious "A Day In The Badlands" on which Ker Ourio's plaintive harmonica paints a musical image of the vast and haunting landscape while Arnold's muted guitar provides a moody backdrop. A track like the latter could almost be categorized as ambient harmonica! Trust me, you have never heard anything like this music. Yes, it has elements of jazz and fusion in it, but it also can be sparse and minimal and in that way can hold its own with good ambient music, much like another similar jazz duet recording, Beyond the Missouri Sky (Pat Metheny and Charlie Haden) does. Which is not to say that each artist can't step out and display some pyrotechnics on his instrument, although they tend to be slow-burners and not light-up-the sky variety. "Blue Lotus" opens with some deft picking from Arnold, navigating the strings with uncommon dexterity before Ker Ourio's harmonica imparts a shade of blue on the proceedings. However, neither artist ever takes over a song completely, throwing the other one into complete shadow. Instead, they take turns carrying the load of the emotional weight of the compositions. "Reflection" first draws its pensive nature from Arnold's low key playing and then Ker Ourio takes over the reins, blowing a slow sensual tune that sways ever so gently but also somewhat mournfully. One of the album highlights (especially on headphones) is when the two players nimbly intertwine their instruments playing the same notes, with just enough free-wheeling and improvisation that the commonality and the separation come across as natural and unforced. The track "Consistancy" is a good example of this symmetry. Whether the subtle driving energy of "Release" or the minimal and somber "Endless Reflection" Duets is a wonderful recording to immerse oneself in, or you can simply play this late at night when its mellow vibe (I mean, can you beat a harmonica and jazz guitar for imparting a violet-shaded glow to a room?) will unfold lazily into the environment like a warm sensation flowing into your tired body. Kudos to Arnold (who also wrote all the music!) and Ker Ourio for creating such a subtly complex yet incredibly accessible recording. As I wrote above, Duets is one of the best albums of 2004 and I only regret not discovering it soon enough to place it on my top ten list. I can still give it my highest recommendation, though. Open-minded ambient fans who hunger for something different (provided they have the barest minimum of affection for jazz) would be well-advised to check it out. Minimalist jazz fans are, of course, enthusiastically encouraged to glom onto this CD, pronto! |
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