'Salt' has a thoughtful, gentle piano line from Kevin Hays studded by minimalist cymbal work and quietly insistent punctuation from drummer Bill Stewart on a 2015 recording that receives a first time release. Nearly all the tunes mainly improvised were of course written by the duo - with Annette Peacock piece 'Archangel' the only cover. You dive in at the deep end immediately with this album beginning with 'Nebula' because there is an intensity from Hays on the piece that takes your breath away. But it takes dedication to really get what the duo are offering and that effort is worthwhile. 'The Good' is easier, quite funky in some passages and then Hays goes avant-garde - Stewart is like a metronome as his time is so perfect here. Not everything grabs me. But there is more than enough to hold on to including the lovely splashes on 'Openings' and 'Archangel' is very tender and provides yet another reason to linger long on American Ballad. SG

Kevin Hays, top left, and Bill Stewart. Photo via the Hays Bandcamp page