Kenny Wheeler & John Taylor: On the Way to Two review – a joyous collaboration

Kenny Wheeler and John Taylor: ‘perhaps the most potent and long-lived partnership in contemporary European jazz’.

The release of this set of duets, recorded in 2005, was intended as a tribute to Kenny Wheeler, marking the first anniversary of his death. John Taylor wrote an affectionate note in memory of his friend and collaborator to go with the CD. Then, shortly before the release date, he, too, died suddenly. So this comes as a memento of perhaps the most potent and long-lived partnership in contemporary European jazz. The interplay between Wheeler’s trumpet or flugelhorn and Taylor’s piano is very much like a conversation – suggesting, agreeing, mildly disagreeing, but never at cross purposes. Neither of them was a demonstrative man and there are no moments of high drama, but the sheer inventiveness makes up for any lack of bravura.