Customer Reviews

More Conversations in Swing Guitar

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Duke and Herb revisit most of the heights from their earlier "Conversations in Swing Guitar." Like the earlier CD, the liner notes for this one attribute Duke to the right channel and Herb to the left channel. I know Herb's style intimately, and this channel information is backwards! I wonder how many of the reviews of the earlier CD were confused by the misleading liner notes. In any case, Herb plays remarkable blues for an 80-year old man. Duke brings a fresh perspective and a few new tricks that complement Herb. One oddity is the late Terry Holmes' appearance on "Blues for Terry," a marvelous slow blues and the highlight of the CD. The liner notes for the earlier CD state that Holmes' solo there (on a CD released four years earlier) was his "last project." I can only conclude that the new CD, though released in 2003, includes at least a few tracks that were left over from the earlier 1999 session. Notwithstanding, if you like jazz, blues, and swing guitar, this CD is for you. Charlie Christian would be proud of his legacy!

This album is worth the price just for the first song, Moten Swing. What a great collection of swing/blues riffing and melodic solo flights! Ellis and Robillard must've had a great time cutting this album, because the joy and sincere love of the genre come though in every phrase. How can you play swing licks for an entire album without repeating yourself or wearing out your welcome? I don't know, but these two masters do it with ease. I've had this album and its predecessor, Conversations in Swing Guitar, at my office and in my car for months now, and still spin them over and over. You focus on savoring the music, or just use it as background... that's one of the great things about this type of instrumental music.

Part 2 of a nice collaberation between Herb Ellis and Duke Robillard. Smooth sounds of vintage cool jazz.