Charlie Haden Nocturne

The second posthumously released duo album featuring Charlie Haden. The first last year was with Jim Hall recorded in Montreal in 1990. This latest one, poetically titled as "Tokyo Adagio", is more recent, Haden duetting with the Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba and draws from a March 2005 Blue Note Tokyo club four-night residency. The polite audience reaction and applause is respectful and the sound of a few knives and forks neither here nor there in the background not distracting: the album feels lived in, which is far better than clinical.

Heartplay is a subtle and sublime collaboration. Charlie and Antonio play a combination of compositions by each other, and a beautifully sparkling track called Child's Play by Fred Hersch. Charlie's bass sounds beautifully deep and rounded, an incredibly satisfying and symbiotic partner with Antonio's guitar. These elegant and eloquent duets are totally atmospheric and an absolute joy to listen to.