Gary Peacock/Marilyn Crispell: Azure

Bassist Gary Peacock and pianist Marilyn Crispell have played together in various settings for years, but Azure marks the first time they've recorded as a duo. Peacock is best known as one-third of the all-conquering Standards Trio, but his formative years were spent exploring the freer end of the jazz spectrum, and it's that more liberated side of his playing on display here. Crispell, for her part, has always staunchly represented the wholly improvised tradition of Cecil Taylor, but her recent playing has hinted at a more structured, compositional approach. On this delicate, beautifully poised set, it is a mark of both players' openness and integrity that they don't cleave to any particular style but follow wherever the music takes them – from near-abstract improvisations to lyrical blues- and folk-tinged compositions. ecmrecords.com