Aki Takase and Han Bennink love the art of dialogue. Bennink is paired for life in a duo with the pianist Misha Mengelberg. Intakt Record also offers a duo recording of Han Bennink with the Zurich pianist Irène Schweizer. After having released five du CDs at Intakt Records with Silke Eberhard, Lauren Newton, Rudi Mahall, Alexander von Schlippenbach and Louis Sclavis, Aki Takase is now presenting a breathtaking and very entertaining recording with Han Bennink. Every tone reveals enjoyment and delight. Aki Takase and Han Bennink – that’s two of a kind in the studio. Two personalities familiar with all traditions of jazz who love to go on an expedition.Aki Takase offers such wondrous compositions as the title song “Two For Two”, an homage to Han Bennink called “Ohana Han”, “My Tokyo” or “Rolled Up”.The duo also reveals its great playfulness while playing standards by Thelonious Monk and Eric Dolphy. Han Bennink is swinging in best New Orleans tradition while Aki Takase shows more and more of her poetical and melodic side.

Sound engineer: Peter Schladenbach
Cover art: Han Bennink, Jonas Schoder
Graphic design: Jonas Schoder
Liner notes: Kevin Whitehead
Photo: Tobias Sommer

Recorded May 2–4, 2011 by Kulturradio vom Rundfunk Berlin Brandenburg, Sound supervisor: Wolfgang Hoff, Assistence /cut: Anne-Kristin Sölter, Digital cut / mastering: Monika Steffens, Radio producer: Ulf Drechsel, Produced by Intakt Records, Patrik Landolt