Jazz fans, this is the best album for the genre that's been released this year. Sadly, its release almost came close to the death of 76-year-old Charlie Haden, the double bassist who recorded this material with pianist Keith Jarrett in 2007. The music comes from the same sessions that provided the music for the 2010 album, Jasmine.
Like previous collaborations that these two outstanding musicians have enjoyed there's an empathy that speaks volumes for their approach to the jazz idiom. Perhaps surprisingly, Jarrett and Haden hadn't played together for nearly 30 years but you wouldn't have known it given how they trade off each other on melodies and shifts of the music.
The track listing of Last Dance follows the same theme as Jasmine in that the duo bring their special approach and combined talents to standards that include Ira Gershwin's My Ship, Theolonious Monk's Round Midnight, Bud Powell's Dance of the Infidels and the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic It Might As Well Be Spring.
Most songs are given lengthy workouts, sometimes venturing off the melody. The meeting of the piano and double bass is always an interesting jazz proposition and here we have probably the best exponents of those instruments trading licks. You also can't fault Last Dance for value for money either, as there are more than 70 minutes of sublime music to enjoy.
