Kenny Davern and Joe Temperley: Live at the Floating Jazz Festival

The musicians comprising this band, save possibly for Joe Temperley, are all associated with a traditional mainstream group of musicians typically showing up on the Arbors, Nagel Heyer, Chiaroscuro, and Concord Labels. They include, in addition to these present, Ruby Braff, Howard Alden, Randy Moss, Randy Sandke, Mark Shane, Ken Peplowski, etc. They are all expert practitioners of jazz, a bit right of center, but able to play what is asked of them.

On the present recording, we are treated to the unlikely paring of clarinet and baritone saxophone. Distant cousins as instruments, together they form a sonic "Black & Tan," with the light clarinet intermingling at the interface of the music with the broad and deep baritone (or bass clarinet on "Creole Love Call"). The results are, how we might say, intoxicating.

Davern and Temperley have never appeared together prior to this meeting but play with that brilliant symbiosis characteristic of jazz. Their recital is not a strictly traditional, swing affair as they include such modern jazz classics and "Bernie’s Tune" and "Blue Monk." The remainder of the recording is steeped deep in the swing idiom with lengthy readings of "Mood Indigo," "Three Little Words," "Creole Love Call," and "I Can’t Believe You are In Love With Me." Journeyman pianist John Bunch, bassist Michael Moore and drummer Joe Ascione amply provide the principal support and are each given a wide berth of solo space which each uses wisely and creatively.