Blue Rose

Guitarist John Stowell was a guest artist at several of the Bellarmine University Jazz Guitar Workshops and Concerts, and saxophonist (and more) Dave Liebman has appeared here many times over the years, at the University of Louisville and elsewhere. Together, they have crafted an elegant and warm album of duets featuring their interpretations of material from Duke Ellington (the lovely title track, "Blue Rose"), Wayne Shorter (the lilting and bluesy"Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum") and more. These veteran artists complement each other throughout, not just comping for one another, but truly playing together. They swing on Cole Porter's "Everything I Love" and present an absolutely gorgeous version of Bill Evans' "Time Remebered," featuring Liebman on piano. Jobim's "Until Paisagem" sways gently, while Joe Farrell's "Molten Glass" features Liebman's tenor conversing with Stowell's guitar. For almost an hour, Stowell and Liebman explore quiet, thoughtful music with delicacy and obvious respect for one another.