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Adrean Farrugia/Joel Frahm: Blued Dharma

By Dan McClenaghan
May 29, 2018
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Adrean Farrugia/Joel Frahm: Blued Dharma

Blued Dharma, a duet outing by pianist

Adrean Farrugia

keyboards

" data-original-title="" title="">Adrean Farrugia and tenor and soprano saxophonist

" data-original-title="" title="">Joel Frahm, opens with the title tune, a simpatico, lighter-than-air composition. The instrumentalists banter and extemporize, bat ideas back and forth and explore melodic main roads and sideroads. So it is for the full album of inspired interplay.

Having played together for nearly a decade in Toronto-based drummer

Ernesto Cervini

drums
b.1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Ernesto Cervini's various bands, the duo has formed a symbiotic camaraderie, a smooth as velvet give and take of ideas, by turns spirited and introspective. Both possess prodigious techniques, both possess expansive souls, and they offer up a batch of Farrugia originals and two takes of the familiar "Cherokee." Both versions of the standard are flexible examinations of the tune, one fluid, the other prickly, both beautiful.

The set as a whole has parallels to other sax/piano duets: The 1997

Ornette Coleman

saxophone, alto
1930 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Ornette Coleman/

Joachim Kuhn

piano
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">Joachim Kuhn release, Colors (Harmolodic), and saxophonist

Juhani Aaltonen

saxophone
b.1935

" data-original-title="" title="">Juhani Aaltonen's pairing with his Finnish compatriot, pianist

Iro Haarla

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Iro Haarla on Kirkastus (TUM Records, 2015), with music that exudes a pianistic elegance and refinement combined with the earthiness and soul of the saxophone sound, unconstrained by bass and drums.

Blued Dharma proves itself an engaging dance of gorgeous interconnectedness between two virtuosic musicians.

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Track Listing

Blued Dharma; Cherokee II; For Murray Gold; Gospell; Nobody Else But Me; Cherokee I; Half Moon.

Personnel

Adrean Farrugia

keyboards

Adrean Farrugia: piano; Joel Frahm: tenor and soprano saxophones.

Album information

Title: Blued Dharma | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: GB Records

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