Jason Rebello & Tim Garland: Life to Life

Finally! After over three decades of friendship and occasional musical collaboration, two of the UK's most respected jazz musicians, pianist Jason Rebello and saxophonist Tim Garland, have finally recorded an album together purely as a duo. Their assurance and instinctive musicianship make this album a real standout. Both share a background from London's Guildhall School of Music & Drama, have been leaders of their own groups and have collaborated with artists such as Wayne Shorter (Rebello) and Chick Corea (Garland) as well as many others outside the main jazz sphere.

The music on Life to Life places the focus on original compositions, with Garland and Rebello contributing four pieces each. The remaining two tracks are inventive readings of Corea's "Children's Song No. 6" and the traditional folk ballad "Black Is The Colour (Of My True Love's Hair)."

The duo's musical bond is apparent from the infectious opening of Garland's "Two To Go," which features his smooth tenor over Rebello's loping piano vamp before launching into improvised sections. Their individual parts flow together so well, you may find yourself checking that there are only two instruments at work. The dreamy ballad "Soul Resonance" follows and features Rebello's piano providing delicate intertwining support for the lyrical saxophone melody. Rebello's "The Missing Ingredient" is one of the liveliest tracks as the pair circle each other sparking with spontaneous energy before resolving into a neat conclusion.

Rebello's compositions "As Free As The River" and the intricate "Fire Of Benevolence" are both insightful and provide platforms for the sax to stretch out and shine. If further texture were needed, Garland switches to sopranino sax for the playful melody lines to "Children's Song No.6" and the upper register of the bass clarinet for Rebello's "No Hope No Tears."

The album closes with two outstanding tracks. Originally recorded on Garland's award-winning album One (Edition Records, 2015), "Samaii For Peace" allows the soprano sax to climb above a complex and energetic piano rhythm. The duo then changes roles as Rebello plays out a stunning break while Garland anchors. Life To Life ends with a wonderful arrangement of the Appalachian / Scottish folk tune "Black Is The Colour (Of My True Love's Hair)." Here Garland's exemplary control of the bass clarinet brings home the yearning at the heart of the song.

This is a flawlessly executed album and shows that a meeting of musical spirits together with learning from experience can be wonderfully productive. To reach this level of rapport takes time and if three decades is what it takes, then it is worth the wait