One of the most beautiful albums we've ever heard from saxophonist
Mats Gustafsson – a series of duets with guitarist
David Stackenas, all done as tributes to blues greats of years past! As with other "tribute" projects by artists like
Gustafsson or Ken Vandermark, the core inspiration for the music is very submerged in the actual results – so that the album's not actually a blues record by the players, but one that draws sympathies, feelings, colors, and tones from the music – and recasts it in a freely improvisatory manner.
Mats plays baritone sax throughout, which makes for a haunting contrast with the acoustic guitar work of Stackenas – and there's a feel here that's almost a bit like some of
Gustafsson's duets with
David Grubbs. Titles include "Shave Em Wet", "Bumble Bee Blues", "Built To Do What You Did Last Night", and "Take Your Hand Off It".