Jon Lloyd / John Law: Naissance

It hardly matters whether or not Naissance goes down in musical history as one of the greatest or best-of piano/saxophone duet recordings. Comfortingly ethereal and most assured of itself, Naissance is a beautiful recording with a serenity and sense of open accomplishment all its own.

British pianist/composer John Law and tenor/alto saxophonist Jon Lloyd embrace these ten thoughtful Zen moments as the seasoned creators they are. Law is a prize-winning classical prodigy who has sat atop the European jazz scene for many a maverick year. He and Lloyd, a wily veteran of London's free improvisation realm for over thirty years, lock in but never lock up, or most importantly, lock out any notion that crosses their path.

"Cidron," "Mode 1," "Miserere," "Meta" all reverberate soundly through the moments of our day. Pianist and saxophonist speaking for himself and all of us. It is sacred yet it is temporal. Lasting but fleeting simultaneously. "For Stan," "Lamentations," and the whispery open fields hymn of "Where Roses Are" has each man his special tone and his special way of telling the universal truths.

And there are universal truths no matter what politicians, priests, pundits, and tech oligarchs hypnotize the masses with. Those truths are exposed in such soul-satisfying performances as the closing trio of "Mode 2," Law's heartfelt leaps and runs that command "Stabat," and "Fingernail Moon." The truth is our need to converse and collaborate. Create and commit to the other. Naissance is all that and more.

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