Sempre Amore
Soprano saxophonist Lacy and pianist Waldron have been working together since the 1950s and share an unusual gift for musical depth, long evident in their duet explorations of bop tunes and their recurring dialogue on the music ofThelonious Monk. This 1986 recording is devoted to tunes byDuke EllingtonandBilly Strayhorn, Ellington's long-time collaborator, and what beautiful tunes they are. Lacy and Waldron touch on some frequently played pieces, like the swinging "Johnny Come Lately" and the beautiful "Prelude to a Kiss," but they've dug deeply into the songbook for seldom-played numbers like "Sempre Amore," "Azure," and "Smada." There isn't a note wasted in these masterful etchings, demonstrating a theme can be explored to its limits by being refined to its essence. --Stuart Broomer