Melanie Scholtz & Jo Skaansar: Kindred

It only takes a few seconds to recognize the strong musical bonds linking South African-born, New York-based vocalist Melanie Scholtz and Norwegian bassist Jo Skaansar. Having worked together for years, these two tend to operate on a higher plane. That's been made perfectly clear on stages throughout the world and with Skaansar's appearances on Scholtz's Connected (Loudberry, 2010) and Living Standards (Loudberry, 2010), and it's equally apparent on this spellbinding duo EP.

Opening on "I'm Old Fashioned," this pair proves to be anything but. Demonstrating that classic's pliancy with metric adjustments which feel perfectly natural in their hands, Scholtz and Skaansar score high marks right from the start. Then they deliver a beautiful, melodically-moored "Danny Boy" which sells itself with sincerity; offer an artfully direct look at Abbey Lincoln's "Throw It Away," working right to the song's intentions; swing their way across "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To"; and take a slow, haunting trip through "J'oublie."

Investing themselves in a South African standard as the program reaches its end, Scholtz and Skaansar offer new perspectives on Winston Mankunku Ngozi's "Yakhal' Inkomo." Opening with both artists singing, things quickly settle in with Skaansar's adoption of that number's bolstering bass riff (which creates a foundation for Scholtz's lead work). An overdubbed electric bass solo adds another layer to the music—literally and figuratively— and this duo's chemistry and connectedness is written all over their exit work. Kindred is an incredibly satisfying listen, though far too brief with less than 25 minutes of music in total. It most certainly makes a strong case for a full-length follow-up.

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