It's such a loss to the music that Geri Allen is no longer with us - the pianist died in 2017. Five years earlier she had recorded this newly issued duo performance - the only time they played together - with guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel at the Paris Philharmonie. There's a grand sweep of jazz past and present coming together here. Standards by Billy Strayhorn, Gershwin (in an arrangement by Herbie Hancock of 'Embraceable You'), Thelonious Monk and originals of Geri's and Kurt's are all in the blend. Geri original 'Open Handed Reach' is perhaps the pick of the whole album - in her writing you get, as you do with the writing of Wayne Shorter, a certain mystical magic and resource. What a gift from the past to hear this today - a unique document and welcome reminder again of the very special sound of Geri Allen speaking to us so personally once again. Geri Allen and Kurt Rosenwinkel, photo: Motéma