Bassist Tom Lyne and pianist Dave Milligan are well acquainted: Lyne has played bass in Milligan’s trio for more than twenty years. This familiarity and trust breeds a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere. The empathy they share is evident throughout this record. It is full of gems, with some lovely playing from both musicians.
There are several bass solos, as one should expect from a bassist’s record. Lyne carries them off with aplomb and skill. The recording of the bass swells with warmth. His infectiously funky work-out on David Sanborn and Marcus Miller’s Run For Cover is accompanied by the most minimal of percussive piano, Milligan beating the sides of his piano, and later some low chords. The Bent Peg features a sensitive two minute bass intro before morphing into a slow, thoughtful ballad.
Milligan’s lightness of touch and creativity bring another dimension to the record. His playing has a slow meditative quality, as on his introduction to Glitch In The Key To Life.
Whilst many of the tracks are slow ballads, the title track bounces along with an easy swing. Loosely based on Duke Ellington’s Backward Country Boy Blues from Money Jungle – though I doubt I’d have recognised it – Lyne’s walking bass positively strolls along at a jaunty pace.
They make it sound so easy. The two musicians clearly exalt in each others company. Which is right, since together they have created some lovely music.
