JOËLLE LÉANDRE, ANDRZEJ KARAŁOW: Flint (Fundacja Ensemblage)

An album created by double bassist Joëlle Léandre and pianist Andrzej Karałow. These artists, from different generations, are united by their exceptional creativity. The recording took place at Studio S4 of Polish Radio in Warsaw, resulting in nine tracks lasting together just under forty minutes. Those nine "flints" emerged from spontaneous improvisation. While there are moments of heightened expression, the duo's conversations mostly feel quite restrained. That said, it is Andrzej Karałow who exhibits a bit more restraint, while Joëlle Léandre contrasts this beautifully with the heightened intensity of her presence. The artistry of both musicians shines through in their ability to perfectly sense how to behave—when to remain in the background and when to highlight their playing. They masterfully transition from speaking with one voice to clashing their individual instrumental narratives. The whole album unfolds as a fascinating, imagination-stirring record of a meeting of musical mastery.

from  www.europejazz.net