snobb At 74 Archie Shepp is not the same explosive angular sax player as he was in the 60s or 70s, but he still has his signature sax sound. His duo with European jazz veteran German pianist Joachim Kuhn is quite an unusual combination - being both almost cult figures in avant-garde jazz, but with roots that are very different.

Fortunately this album is a successful experiment - balancing all the elements between the calculated and technically complex piano work of Kuhn with Shepp's soulful and bluesy vocal-like sax soloing. The music unexpectedly sounds fresh and attractive, even if in some moments it is dangerously eclectic. This album contains five original compositions and three jazz standards and is unexpectedly very lyrical.

Shepp demonstrates his free jazz improvs time to time and it works in adding the right spice to warm this album's atmosphere. Starting from the strong and even catchy opener, "Transmitting", the musicians build an atmosphere that the listener just can't leave. Not all of the album is equally strong and dynamic, possibly the most problematic moments are Kuhn's lengthy fast and cold, almost mathematical piano solos that undermine the warm atmosphere at times, but all in all, it is an album you want to return to again and again.

One between best jazz releases I heard during first half of 2011.