This is one of the greatest musical friendships in contemporary music. For more than thirty years, Evan Parker and Barry Guy have been working together Ð in the Evan Parker - Barry Guy - Paul Lytton Trio, the Evan Parker - Barry Guy Duo, Barry Guy New Orchestra, Evan Parker Electro-Acoustic Ensemble, and London Jazz Composers Orchestra. Barry Guy and Evan Parker characterize the current musical scene of today. With the present double CD, Birds and Blades (Intakt CD 080), both musicians present a great monument of their duo music and their long-standing friendship. Seven subtle Improvisations with elaborate studio sound can be heard on the first CD; as a contrast, the live situation of a concert in the Zurich book-bar "Spères" shapes the four intensive improvisations on the second CD. An extensive interview by the American journalist Bill Shoemaker in the 24-page booklet situates the duo recording in the extensive works of both musicians. "We are turning sunlight into music," Parker says in the conversation. "Barry knows that the sun is always there, even when it's cloudy. He knows that source is there, so there's an energy coming from Barry, a delight in the activity of playing, regardless of the considerations of success and failure - just the activity of playing. That joy communicates very clearly and I can work with that."

Engineer: Martin Pearson
Cover Art: Eugen Bisig
Liner Notes: Bill Shoemaker
Photo: Caroline Forbes

CD 1: Recorded September 6, 2001 at Radiostudio DRS Zürich. Engineer: Martin Pearson. CD 2: Recorded live September 7, 2001 at Sphères Bar Buch & Bühne, Zürich.Mixed and mastered February 2003 by Martin Pearson. Compositions by Evan Parker and Barry Guy (PRS/MCPS/PAMRA). Produced, published and copyright by Intakt Records. Executive production: Patrik Landolt