Kevin Fort: Chiaroscuro

Pianist Kevin Fort and guitarist Andy Brown are two stalwarts of the Chicago jazz scene.  With their easily recognizable styles and superlative musicianship, they have individually built critically acclaimed discographies.  On Chiaroscuro, the pair draws on pianist Bill Evans and guitarist Jim Hall discs from the 1960s to craft eight intimate, lyrical tracks that crackle with spontaneity.

For instance, the bluesy "Leroy" starts with melodic refrains played in unison.  Out of the head seamlessly emerges Brown's resonant phrases.  The guitarist embellishes the tune with laid-back swagger, building on it with deceptive facility and elegance.  Fort further deconstructs the main theme and reassembles it with refreshing inventiveness.  The eloquent conversation that follows demonstrates not only the two artists' superb soloing but also their camaraderie.

The faster tempos of "Yardbird Suite" demonstrate that Fort and Brown are equally at home with balladry and boppish performances.  Fort's solo is breathtakingly spry, and Brown lets loose rapid-fire lines with nimble wit. The duet that follows is effervescent and engaging.

On "Morning Light" guitar and piano echo and mirror one another as they build a waltz-like ambiance.  Each musician takes center stage with graceful finesse, transforming the music into a vibrant, living entity as they push it away from the main motif without losing sight of its tender mood and thematic core.

Fort's block chords and sparse notes on the title piece are wistful and bittersweet. Brown responds with chiming and darkly hued lines that fit perfectly in the subtly dramatic ambiance.  The two musicians take turns extemporizing on the core melody with a poetic sense and a tinge of melancholy.  

The album also offers moments when the two musicians showcase their virtuosity with panache.  On "Night and Day," for instance, their exchanges are marked with agility.  Each artist explores the entire scale of their respective instruments without sacrificing the mellifluousness for pyrotechnics.  Only confident improvisers possess this skill.

As the title suggests, Fort and Brown build their duets upon contrasts.  This makes Chiaroscuro a sophisticated and moving recording that is original and accessible.  This is Fort and Brown's first duo release and, given its brilliance, whets the appetite for more to come in the future.