Alexander Hawkins/Taylor Ho Bynum

Perhaps the state of wonder suggested here is why UK pianist Alexander Hawkins and American cornetist/flugelhornist Taylor Ho Bynum have never before recorded as a duo. Both lead their own bands and have affiliations with the likes of Tomeka Reid and Joe McPhee (Hawkins) and Anthony Braxton and Mary Halvorson (Bynum) and were even part of a quartet with Canadian drummer Harris Eisenstadt and British bassist Dominic Lash more than a decade ago. But this new opportunity begs the question of how the two can operate alone. Very well is the answer, since both have played solo sets as well as gone one-on-one with a variety of other instrumentalists.

Hawkins may seem to be at the advantage with the multiple rhythms, colors and pitches available from a piano. Yet Bynum easily holds his own, separating his two horns for distinctive sound definition. Smokey flugelhorn textures are perfect for lyrical interpretations as grace notes and muted snuffles meet rich keyboard chording for comforting vibrations as on “Song of Clarity”, and with lowing purrs extend Hawkins’ echoing kalimba-like inner string plinks to full emotional purity on “Catalogue (Part 2)”.

In contrast the biting ripples and brassy shakes from the cornet operate as foils to those times when the pianist’s connective chording moves from straight ahead to emphasize unexpected stops, starts and percussive detours. This is most prominent on “Aria Far Away” as Hawkins’ linear theme is punctuated with galloping keyboard cascades and thickened projections. Cornet plunger tones, vibrating smears and half-valve undulations reach prestissimo quivers before finally uniting with the piano narrative for a unison ascending conclusion.

But perhaps the most demonstrative example of the duo’s kindred versatility is “Q (Index)”. A multi-layered Bill Dixon line – Hawkins composed six of the remaining seven tunes –  it evolves from a subdued section of muffled brass whines and soundboard strings and hammers shakes to dynamic contrasts between echoing piano pedal point and masticated half-valve brass timbres. After antithetical open horn blasts and sped up but controlled piano chording is heard, Bynum repeats his cornet variations while Hawkins’ concentrated key plinking preserve the original exposition.

With myriad other commitments Bynum and Hawkins likely can’t often repeat this realized exercise in dual perceptive musical admiration. But maybe a near permanent, but occasional set of similar meetings could advantageously be arranged. For more info visit

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Catalogue (Part 1) 2. Aria Far Away 3. Q (Index) 4. Anderson Knows 5. X (Index) 6. Song of Clarity 7. Catalogue (Part 2) 8. A Near Permanent State of Wonder

Personnel: Taylor Ho Bynum (cornet and flugelhorn) and Alexander Hawkins (piano)