This is a splendid album that avoids all the pitfalls of recording in a duo situation and confining the material to ballads and the pair have produced a first rate set that yields more with each repeated listening.
Woodvill Records WVCD154 / WVLP154
Alan Barnes (alto, tenor & baritone saxophones, clarinet & bass clarinet); David Newton (piano)
Recorded November 5th, 2023
Both Barnes and Newton are old hands at playing standards, and more importantly bringing a sense of order and musicality to their playing at any tempo. On this latest duo outing, the focus is firmly on gentle tempos and ballads and the resulting music is deeply reflective and lyrical.
The two protagonists have been playing together in various combinations for more years than either of them probably cares to remember, and this level of empathy is only achieved when the musicians involved are totally in tune with each other and the music and that is certainly the case here on this fine recording.
David Newton is renowned by his distinctive touch at the piano and his playing is a model of elegance, economy and good taste. His introduction to ‘You’re My Thrill’ is, well quietly thrilling and his solo on ‘London by Night’ stunningly eloquent. Elsewhere his accompaniment is second to none. So well does he know Barnes’s playing that the two seem to exchange musical ideas at the drop of a hat, and Newton has just the right phrase and harmonic know how to support his colleague, and as if returning the compliment Alan Barnes makes sure that he uses the cues from the pianist to the best effect.
Multi-instrumentalist Barnes wields out his various horns in a tasteful manner with some fine tenor playing on ‘Lucky To Be Me’, and his clarinet is heard on the delightful opening bossa nova ‘Brigas Nuna Mais’. Bass clarinet and baritone are heard on the title track, ‘A Bientôt’ and Ellington’s ‘Tonight I Shall Sleep with a Smile on my Face’ (in a respectful nod to Harry Carney) respectively, but is his alto playing that perhaps steals the limelight.
Once described many years ago as “the only near rival to the brilliant Peter King”, Barnes has proved the analogy to be correct, but more importantly has forged a sound on the alto that is unmistakably his own, and should proof be required just take a listen to his playing on the combined Burt Bacharach compositions ‘A House Is Not A Home / Alfie’.
This is a splendid album that avoids all the pitfalls of recording in a duo situation and confining the material to ballads and the pair have produced a first rate set that yields more with each repeated listening.
