Improvisations (Ran Blake & Jaki Byard album)

Improvisations is an album of piano duets by the American jazz pianists Ran Blake and Jaki Byard, recorded in 1981 and released on the Italian Soul Note label.[1]

Improvisations
Studio album by
Released1982
RecordedMay 25–26, 1981
GenreJazz
Length44:38
LabelSoul Note
ProducerGiovanni Bonandrini
Jaki Byard chronology
Family Man
(1978)
Improvisations
(1982)
To Them – To Us
(1981)
Ran Blake chronology
Film Noir
(1980)
Improvisations
(1981)
Duke Dreams
(1981)

Reception

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The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow stated: "Because Byard (who can play credibly in virtually every jazz style) is highly flexible, he was able to meet Blake on his own terms and inspire him to play more extrovertedly than usual... In other words, this matchup works".[2]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings    [3]

Track listing

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All compositions by Ran Blake & Jaki Byard except as indicated
  1. "On Green Dolphin Street" (Bronislau Kaper, Ned Washington) - 6:06
  2. "Prelude" - 4:09
  3. "Chromatics" - 8:28
  4. "Wende" (Ran Blake) - 3:42
  5. "Tea for Two" (Irving Caesar, Vincent Youmans) - 6:57
  6. "Victoria" (Greg Silberman) - 4:41
  7. "Sonata for Two Pianos" - 10:35
  • Recorded at Barigozzi Studio in Milano, Italy on May 25 & 26, 1981

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ Soul Note discography accessed July 12, 2011
  2. ^ a b Yanow, S. AllMusic Review accessed July 12, 2011
  3. ^ Cook, Richard; Brian Morton (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. The Penguin Guide to Jazz (9th ed.). London: Penguin. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-14-103401-0.