We on the blog generally bog-trot merrily enough along but reserve more than a country mile or two distance away from sitting down to an album that has a two-piano conversation going on as its centre or only point of difference. The reason that the format often tries our patience - and we may not be typical at all in this - is eventual overkill. There is a particular state of being when pianists getting together head to head usually at the controls of some beautiful, highly tuned and cared for, top of the range instruments tend to agree musically with everything the other player produces, good, bad or indifferent. It can be exhausting. It can also against all expectations work.

We weren't necessarily looking for massive inspiration in listening to pianists Dan Cavanagh and James Miley. But there is a twist and quite a fork in the road it is to of course up the ante of what these two fine players can fashion up themselves whether you buy into the format or not to reach the point to appreciate what so substantially is achieved here. Because that added value is in the arrangement and also the presence of John Hollenbeck on 'Another Life' written by Cavanagh from the album of the same name. The Claudia Quintet's Hollenbeck is a composer who is a genius who is a drummer or if you prefer a genius who is a drummer who is a composer or how about a drummer who is a composer who is a… you get the drift. He is certainly not slacking here.

Uncork all this to let out the flow that is the genie in the bottle by pressing play to discover two very subtle pianists who know the value of space and how not to go all grandiose and into the overkill red zone. And above all realise that they are players who know how to work with a drummer as an equal not as someone who is exclusively playing along to their however ingenious (and they are) highly crafted often quite moving lapping lines of enchantment.

The full album of Another Life is out in late-October

Image top - detail from the cover art