Jazz For Two

This wonderful Italian CD will be difficult to locate. The first ten selections are from April 16, 1981, and match the excellent mainstream cornetist Oscar Klein and the fine chordal guitarist Lino Patruno with the soprano sax of Carlo Bagnoli and bassist Marco Ratti. Jazz historians will immediately think of the pair of famous 1940 sets that resulted in eight numbers by the quartet of Sidney Bechet, Muggsy Spanier, guitarist Carmen Mastren, and bassist Wellman Braud; Klein and Patruno certainly thought of that band when putting together their session. Bagnoli's main influence is clearly Bechet (although his vibrato is not as pronounced); five of the ten songs were also played by the earlier group. The main difference is that Klein does not sound like Spanier, although his style is quite complementary to the format, and the musicians are not trying to copy their predecessors. The interplay between the players on such numbers as "That's a Plenty," "China Boy," and "Chicago" is consistently delightful and full of spirit. The second half of the CD is an intriguing set of duets by Klein and Patruno that were recorded June 14 and August 27, 1983. Patruno switches between his acoustic guitar and banjo, but the main reason these collaborations are of great interest is the contributions of Klein. Rather than just sticking to cornet, he also plays some excellent electric guitar in a swing style that sometimes overlaps with Al Casey and Tiny Grimes, and, on "Duo Blues," he jams on harmonica like a 1950s Chicago blues musician. The pair perform seven standards and three basic originals with creativity, swing, and enough variety to hold one's interest throughout. Highly recommended.