Geri Allen & Kurt Rosenwinkel: A Lovesome Thing

At Philharmonie de Paris on September 5, 2012, pianist Geri Allen and guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel delivered the mesmerizing performance preserved on this album. Geri Allen is known for her innovative perspective on the piano. Kurt Rosenwinkel has a distinctive approach to the guitar. They seamlessly blend their craft to approach a thoughtful selection of standards and original compositions.

Billy Strayhorn's "A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing" opens. With its lush harmonies and soulful melodies, the piece serves as a canvas for Allen to demonstrate her nuanced touch. George and Ira Gershwin's "Embraceable You" follows with the duo's musical chemistry on full display. Allen's nimble fingers fly across the keyboard with a crisp touch. Rosenwinkel's guitar phrasing adds layers of depth and emotion. The piece unfolds like a conversation between old friends.

Throughout the concert, Allen's virtuosic technique and Rosenwinkel's mastery of the guitar's sonic possibilities created a dynamic interplay, well demonstrated on Thelonious Monk's "Ruby My Dear." The beauty of Monk's chord changes allowed the players to craft a mixture of tranquility and coolness, resulting in one of the most interesting interpretations of this piece. The closing track is a Geri Allen original ,"Open-Handed Reach." In this compellingly evocative composition filled with harmonic coloration, Allen and Rosenwinkel proved that the beauty of jazz is not just in the notes played but also painted a portrait of collaboration between the musicians.