Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Hans Teuber & Jeff Johnson: Deuce
Hans Teuber & Jeff Johnson: Deuce
ByThe pair's artistry has always displayed a free-roaming coolness. That doesn't change here. Half of the tune-smithing on the set is attributed to Teurber/Johnson, including the mystical opener, "When I'm In The Sky." These are introspective, gorgeous wanderers, floating around with no direction home. "Let's Pretend" begins with a bass drone, giving the music an eastern tinge."Hot Rod" has more momentum, but it's a ride that rolls just beneath the speed limit, on a steady cruise control, showcasing Heuber's always beautiful tone and Johnson's muscular backdrops.
The unusualfor a couple of "free" guyschoices in covers adds another layer to the element of surprise: a lugubrious take on bluesman Jimmy Reed's "Bright Lights, Big City," a levitating, slightly ramped-up rendition of the standard "What's New?" And Irving Berlin's "How Deep Is The Ocean," brings saxophonist Lee Konitz' elastic versions of this gem to mind; and the closer, "You've Changed," from the Great American Songbook, features Johnson's powerful yet-pensive bass solo and Teuber's deft and delicate touch with the melody, to close out yet another superb recording by the Teuber and Johnson teaming.
Track Listing
When I'm In The Sky; Bright Lights, Big City; Let's Pretend; What's New?; Rain Makes Applesauce; Hot Rod; How Deep Is The Ocean; Hopi Dream; Hummingbirds; You've Changed.
Personnel
Hans Teuber
saxophoneHans Teuber: tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, alto flute; Jeff Johnson: bass.
Album information
Title: Deuce | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Origin Records
< Previous
Is That So?
Next >
Life Stories