At times this duo sounds almost baroque but the choice of duetting instrumentation borders on genius. For example, on the opener, Fellini’s Waltz, Ross Stanley’s bright staccato piano runs perfectly complement Chris Allard’s exploratory guitar. Use Your Imagination has an easy-going, bluesy feel which serves to emphasise the symbiotic relationship between these two musicians.
On paper, guitar and piano might seem an unusual combo – although there are certainly precedents, such as Bill Evans and Jim Hall’s Undercurrents (United Artists, 1962) and Pat Martino and Jim Ridl’s Nexus (High Note, 2015) but actually here it works spectacularly successfully. There’s even a nod to Evans in the title of the third track, Waltz For Libby.
Ross Stanley has acquired a justified reputation as a fine Hammond organist but as attested to by this album, he’s an equally superb pianist. Similarly, Chris Allard is a highly talented guitarist and has a proven track record as both a leader and as a regular accompanist to the likes of Jacqui Dankworth.
The seamless interweaving of the two instruments on numbers such as the Allard-penned Critter is seriously impressive. Allard actually wrote four originals here and the remainder are tunes by notables such as Cole Porter (Use Your Imagination), Antonio Carlos Jobim (Luiza) and a satisfyingly bluesy rendering of Ann Ronnell’s Willow Weep For Me. The title track, which is Spanish for tortoise, maintains an appropriately stately pace combined with an Iberian feel.
This a truly delightful album which works on multiple levels but crucially engages the listener throughout.
Discography
Fellini’s Waltz; Use Your Imagination; Waltz For Libby; Jive Coffee; Critter; Willow Weep For Me; Tortugas; See The Pyramid; Luiza; Grand Lament (59.06)
Allard (elg); Stanley (p). Colchester, 2022.
Perdido Records DOR2201
