Wonderful, impressive, exciting, almost odd, and in any case fascinating: two women play Ornette Coleman tunes in a duo with reeds and piano, and beyond that with selections from the phase when the jazz innovator consciously left piano out of his groups. Aki Takase, the Grande Dame of jazz piano based in the tradition but open to freedom, meets the young Saxophoneophonist Silke Eberhard, who has made a name for herself with her own bands. They play early Ornette Coleman tunes. And it’s soon clear: they’re addictive. It’s not just that they’re catchy. They’re only simple when considered superficially; they can trigger the highest levels of complexity. They are provocative, inciting total freedom, but always with shape and form. What can be heard on the two duo CDs is not only a Coleman anthology but also an encyclopedia of approaches to his melodies. Every conceivable manner of arranging and improvising is explored here – melodic, harmonic, rhythmic, sonic.

Cover art and graphic design: Jonas Schoder
Liner Notes: Bert Noglik
Photo: Nina Höffken

All compositions by Ornette Coleman except Dedicated to OC-Doughnut by Aki Takase, all arrangements by Aki Takase. Recorded, mixed and mastered September 19, 20, 21, 2006 by Rainer Robben at AudioCue Studio Berlin. Produced by Intakt Records