InDuologue is a young Greek Duo’s Voice and Double Bass jazz project. Alexandra Lerta and Vasilis Stefanopoulos respectively. When I heard the samples of this music for the very first time I commented on that automatically about how much it reminded me Sheila Jordan’s projects with her long term bass partners Harvie Swartz and Cameron Brown. Or one off simply titled Sheila, with Arild Andersen in 1975 when it all started. Later on I learned that it was exactly her inspiration, so the smile she posted under my post became clear and understandable.
The concept is not new, but just a few really managed to perfect it. Have a look around and you will see how many recordings you can find. The reason for that is simple. It is not about two musicians together. This is a kind of interaction that requests special, very intimate relationship and that particular blend of personalities which just doesn’t happen too often.
Except Aleka’s muse Sheila, whom I love deeply myself my only another favourite are Nancy King recordings with Glen Moore from early nineties and Caecilie Norby’s ones with her husband Lars Danielsson, the great bassist himself.
Since that only a couple of young pretenders managed to turn my attention, like Larry Bjornson with Jessie Brown or Adam Oscar Storey and Kristen Haynes. And now Ala and Vasilis. All that happened during the last 3 years so it looks like we have got really An Impending Bloom, to paraphrase one of my most beloved titles. So what is the music like one might wish to ask after this long intro?
To make the story short : Brilliant, just like that. But it really is so fantastic that it deserves further explanation. The way the Duo works indicates clearly they belong to Jordan’s school. But all they do is strictly their own. What always concerns me is the lyrics selection. This is purely about sensitivity. How the artist identify herself? What she wants to say? To whom she refers her reflection ? And consequently to whom they are addressed. It is a kind of personal PR and personality indication. It becomes even more significant when it comes to the bass / voice set up or Acapella.
Texts selection for example varies from classics coming from Jazz ( and not only ) milestones. From Berlin’s CD title song, through Tum Drum Blues by Oscar Brown Jr, the man who put the words together to Davis’ All Blues. We have got there Mort Dixon’s Bye Bye Blackbird, probably most personal and important song in Sheila’s repertoire and to me Alexandra’s beautiful tribute to her. N.K.Cole’s Calypso Blues and Rogers/ Hart’s My Funny Valentine, who doesn’t know those ?
As more modest examples we have Mark Knopffler’s Why Worry, a very original Dire Straights cover, Thierney Sutton’s Joy Spring written to Cliford Brown’s music and Jimmy Webb’s The Moon’s a harsh mistress.
And the most important I believe Alexandra’s own poems and lyrics she sung in an opening tunes.
First is a dialogue in which she puts her own Lovejoy poem as a counterpoint to opening lyrics compilation grouped under title Little Suede Shoes/Day by Day. It is very touching today’s response to the words from the past which are also true and nothing but describing people’s eternal longing and desires.
Following Ala’s own again Tin Tin Deo continues to communicate with the listener on the very intimate edge and showing clearly how talented songwriter/poet she is herself, not just a great and sensual interpreter.
I would love to have 1000 words given to express what I am feeling listening to this music, but I just got half of that. So one need to take it from that and give it a serious listen as that is definitely going to be one of the best things which happened in the music this year.
As to Vasilis I apologise I couldn’t accommodate more room to say about his mastery and focused on the project and the Voice, but he is The Bassist, so I am sure he understands that. He also is an excellent Bass player, really in the same league as the names of his predecessors and colleagues I mentioned above.
Sky is a swordfish here, but it is not a limit.
INFO:
As SnipRecords dosn’t operate any more this recording can now be purchased directly from the Duo members.
Please contact them via band’s fan-page on facebook or via direct profiles bellow:
https://www.facebook.com/vasilis.stefanopoulos.7
https://www.facebook.com/alexandra.lerta1?pnref=lhc.unseen