Tom Lyne: Well Mixed Blue

Having played together since 1998, bassist Tom Lyne and pianist Dave Milligan have developed what is often described as a 'telepathic' musical connection. Whether it is truly telepathic or not, their intuitive trust and mutual understanding shine brightly throughout Lyne's album, Well Mixed Blue.

The duo (along with drummer Tom Bancroft) has a long history as the Dave Milligan Trio, releasing two albums along the way. While this output might appear modest, it reflects how their exceptional talents have been in high demand across numerous musical projects and genres over the years.

Lyne, originally from Edmonton, Canada, moved to Europe after graduating from McGill University with a distinction in jazz bass. Now a long-time resident of Scotland, he has composed eleven of the twelve tracks on the album. His versatility has led to him writing and arranging scores for big bands and a variety of ensembles, primarily in the jazz and folk worlds, which encompass soundtracks, choirs and strings.

A leading figure in the Scottish music scene, Milligan is equally versatile and genre fluid. He has collaborated with Colin Steele, Scott Hamilton and Larry Carlton and also many leading lights of the folk world. He also co-founded The Unusual Suspects—worth looking up to hear the swirling sound that a groundbreaking jazz-folk, 22-piece big band of brass, bagpipes, harp, rhythm section and massed fiddles makes.

The material on this album draws on these influences to create a range of musical portrayals. The reflective and rather lovely opening track, "Sea More," sets the scene for much of what is to follow, with Lyne's bass weaving around the evolving piano melody. The bright "Three Sides Now" flows, with the lead moving between bass and piano, as the duo relate to each other's moves. "The Bent Peg" moves in a different direction with Milligan joining Lyne's lithe, introductory bass improvisation before a joint exploration around the melody.

There is plenty of variety on offer: Lyne moves into funk mode for an unexpected cover of David Sanborn's "Run For Cover" and the title track, loosely based on Duke Ellington's "Backwards Country Boy Blues," has, as Lyne explains, "some Coltrane-style changes to make it just a bit more uncomfortable and more challenging." One of many highlights, "One Small Thing" has Lyne at his best, driving the interplay and textures, while "Holding On" finds the duo in a melancholy mood on the stately melody.

This album of elegant piano and bass delights is a tribute to their enduring partnership, forming a collection of song-based compositions where harmonies and counterpoint are woven together with delicacy and care. After many collaborations over the years, the stars have aligned for this recording. While both musicians excel, it is in their combinations where they shine brightest.

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