Recorded in Japan last September by two of Denmark's finest - vocalist Eeg and pianist Christoffersen - Shikiori is an unprogrammed, unedited WYSIWYG recording and, as such, no fault is corrected.
I must admit that any faults there may be have certainly bypassed my critical ear. Perhaps the duo's faults equate to other artist's high points!
The material comprise originals by both although, paradoxically, not with each other. There are also a few standards the pick of which is the blasé take on Lush Life. Eeg gets the perfect balance between the contrasting emotions displayed in Strayhorn's lyrics.
Maria, from West Side Story is a tour de force of technique from the singer. A performance that would tick the boxes at the Met, on Broadway or at Birdland.
However, on an album such as this, to give one track the nod over another is pointless although I do have a leaning towards Eeg's Losing You and Christoffersen's A Second Chance at Love - they are rather special and the duo's version of But Not For me brings to mind Ella's duo recording with Ellis Larkins of the tune on an old 10" LP.
Faults? I'm still looking!
Shikiori, incidentally, refers to sleeve note writer Seigo Matsunaga's grandmother's home. In Japanese it means "a place where hearts return" and, years after his grandmother's death, Matsunaga did return. He renovated it and it became a not too formal performance space where this album was recorded. It's delightful. Lance
Losing You; Hebi; Soba Flower; Lush Life; Better Than Anything; Maria; Cold; A Second Chance at Love; But Not For me; Don't be so Blue; Seems Like Yesterday; Soba
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