Home » Jazz Articles » Extended Analysis » Tommy Flanagan: Tommy Flanagan / Jaki Byard: The Magic of 2

5

Tommy Flanagan: Tommy Flanagan / Jaki Byard: The Magic of 2

By

Sign in to view read count
Tommy Flanagan: Tommy Flanagan / Jaki Byard: The Magic of  2
The story of this previously unreleased performance by pianists Tommy Flanagan and Jaki Byard at San Francisco's famous Keystone Korner begins with its unusual distributing label, Resonance Records. The original brainchild of studio owner George Kalbin, the label exists as part of the larger endeavor, the non-profit Rising Jazz Stars Foundation, dedicated to the discovery and cultivation of the next generation of jazz stars. This aspect of the RJSF produced recordings by "newer" artists: Andreas Oberg's My Favorite Guitars (2008), Christian Howes' Heartfelt (2008).

The label also gave light to established but underexposed artists with Bill Cunliffe's excellent The Blues and the Abstract Truth Take 2 and Kathy Kosins's homage To The Ladies of the Cool. But where Resonance Records has really established itself is as the curator of previously unreleased live recordings like Gene Harris' Live in London (2008) and the historic recordings Freddie Hubbard's Pinnacle: Live and Unreleased from Keystone Korner (2011), Wes Montgomery's Echoes Of Indiana Avenue (2012) and Bill Evans' Live at Art D'Lugoff's Top of The Gate (2012).

The Magic of 2 a previously unreleased live recording of a February 1982 show by Flanagan and Byard at the Keystone Korner, joins Hubbard's Pinnacle as a second installment of the label's "Keystone Korner Live Discoveries." It is significant in it is an example of the little heard genre of duo piano concerts (An Evening With Herbie Hancock & Chick Corea (Columbia Records, 1998) and Patricia Barber & Kenny Werner—Live In Concert (Floyd Records, 2011) readily coming to mind). The 30-plus year old sound of the recording is brightly acceptable considering this concert with recorded with no intention of releasing it commercially. The after- engineering by Fran Gala and Klabin restores much that time has taken.

The material is all standards, the most recent being Chuck Mangione's rumbling "Land of Make Believe," almost thundering here and Stevie Wonder's "Send One Your Love." But we are getting ahead of ourselves. The performance begins with be bop, specifically Charlie Parker's "Scrapple from the Apple." Both pianists are warmed up, filling in all of the blanks in this modern jazz paint-by- numbers. Flanagan and Byard's specialty is grand lyricism gently shared, except when the gentle is not required like here. This playing is both an example and tribute to the spontaneity of jazz and the high level of creativity required to sit down with no previous practice and to play like this. The Duke EllingtonBilly Strayhorn axis is the best represented composing school here, with a gently swinging "Satin Doll," a Flanagan solo take on "Something to Live For," the two together again on a driving "All Day Long" and introspective "Chelsea Bridge."

The Magic of 2 makes a notable addition to this new series of unreleased live recordings by Resonance. It is so fine that we must wish for more of the same in the future.

Track Listing

Introduction; Scrapple from the Apple; Just One of Those Things; Satin Doll; Something to Live For; Send One Your Love; Our Delight; All Day Long; Sunday; Chelsea Bridge; The Land of Make Believe; The Theme.

Personnel

Tommy Flanagan: piano; Jaki Byard: piano.

Album information

Title: Tommy Flanagan / Jaki Byard: The Magic of 2 | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Resonance Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.
View events near San Francisco
Jazz Near San Francisco
Events Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses | More...

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.