Search - Jim Hall & Enrico Pieranunzi :: Duologues

The Next Level

Stephen A. Smith | Boston, MA | 01/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Without knowing precisely what you expect from this record, I can almost guarantee it'll surprise you. This was the first of two piano/guitar duets that Jim Hall released last year, the other with Geoffrey Keezer. Both albums were about dialogue using the jazz idiom as opposed to playing tunes straight; so if you're looking for standards, look elsewhere. On the other hand, if you're looking for aural calisthenics, these guys can help. This album will stretch your ears.



I'd define this as free jazz. You wouldn't confuse it with Ornette Coleman, and it's not the sort of aggressive "noise" that turns people off; but it's free in the sense that it isn't anchored by key or tempo. If an analogy would help, imagine wandering through the forest with a guide, and you decide to improvise direction. If your guide is a 17-year-old kid, you're liable to get lost; but if you've got someone who knows the terrain, you might be in for a treat. Hall and Pieranunzi definitely wander off the trail, but they know their way around the woods. It's a treat.



It's not entirely without structure. There are moments when they establish a stable tempo, and they're obviously working from sketches in terms of the landscape for each track. But "Duologues" is an apt title. Compared to most albums, this is less about playing music as a collective and more about two individuals interacting via music. For new acolytes coming from the world of verse/chorus/verse, I might be hesitant to recommend this. But for an experienced jazz fan asking where serious musicians go next, this is the answer."