The third collaboration between bassist
Charnett Moffett
and guitarist
Jana Herzen
, 2021's
New Love
finds the duo exploring an expansive and uplifting, fusion-influenced sound. Both a creative and romantic partnership,
Moffett
and
Herzen
(who married in 2020) have been making music together since 2007's
Passion of a Lonely Heart
. That album featured
's warm vocals as the duo reinterpreting a mix of jazz standards alongside folky original songs. It was a style they further developed on 2020's
Round the World
, investigating compositions by
Joni Mitchell
the Beatles
. While
is very much a continuation of their partnership, it shines a light on bassist
's progressive jazz roots and finds
(primarily a singer/songwriter) pushing her guitar chops to new heights. While it's their core bass and guitar combination that drives the album, they also expand their sound, bringing along drummers
Corey Garcia
Malick Koly
, as well as saxophonist
Irwin Hall
. The record also finds
taking to the mic and showcasing his gentle voice as he does on the vibrant title track.
has an engaging psych-rock influence that feels connected to bands like
Mahavishnu Orchestra
and the '70s work of artists like
Pat Metheny
Larry Coryell
. A technically adept acoustic and electric bassist,
built his reputation playing hard-swinging post-bop with luminaries like
Wynton Marsalis
,
Stanley Jordan
Kenny Garrett
, and others. Focusing on the electric bass here and often playing the lead melody line, his playing has a lithe, joyous quality that brings to mind the work of bassists like
Jaco Pastorius
Steve Swallow
.
follows suit, her electric hollow-body guitar dancing in ebullient tandem with
's buoyant bass lines. Many of their songs have simple, lyrical melodies that they accent with delicate interplay.
is a joyously intimate album that feels like
are playing as much for each other as for the listener. ~ Matt Collar