Completely sublime duets between alto saxophonist Nick Mazzarella and cellist Tomeka Reid – working here together at a level that seems to both bring a whole new sense of energy to duo improvisation, and also put the record at the level of some of the most exciting work of the 70s! The strength here is the tunefulness that both players maintain at most moments – whether it's Mazzarella crafting these rich, soulful lines that feel more like tenor expressions than alto – or Reid working her instrument more like an acoustic bass, again with a depth that seems beyond the instrument's usual scope of expression. There's definitely some free moments throughout, but there's also an adhesion to warmth at the core – on titles that include "Invoking A Spirit", "Blues For Julius & Abdul", "Signaling", "Like So Many Drops Of Water", "The Ancestors Speak", "Rediscovery Of An Age", and "Let It Be Known". CD