Guitar duos are an honorable and deep jazz tradition that reaches back to the music's beginnings. Two Guys From South Dakota is a superior, bop-based addition to that lineage, and it fits right in. Arnold and Miller are in fact from South Dakota, and they keep things swinging throughout. They have stylistic roots in Jim Hall, and to a lesser extent, Pat Metheny, although neither of them are mere imitators. They do favor Hall's lyrical, relaxed swing, however.
The approach here consistently is one of soloing with chordal comping, rather than contrapuntal improvising. Each guitarist comps deftly for the other, increasing the swing by emphatic comps or walking a single-note bass line. The music generates the most momentum when one of the guitarists is walking, as on "All The Things You Are," for example. "Giant Steps," by contrast, becomes a relaxed bossa nova. "Invitation" is the most exciting track, with both Arnold and Miller playing fiery solos that explore the outer edges of the chord changes.
Two Guys From South Dakota is straight-ahead, uncluttered, and unpretentious; warm, inventive, and above all, solidly swinging.
Track Listing
Billie's Bounce; All the Things You Are; Giant Steps; Time Remembered; Invitation; Alone Together
All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.
You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.
We sent a confirmation message to . Look for it, then click the link to activate your account. If you don’t see the email in your inbox, check your spam, bulk or promotions folder.