THE DAVE HOLLAND AND KENNY BARRON DUO, ICING ON A BANNER CONCERT SERIES

Pianist Kenny Barron

The jazz duo bassist Dave Holland and pianist Kenny Barron played the final concert of the 2012-2013 Paradise Jazz Series Friday night at Orchestra Hall in Detroit, MI. The series had concerts by vocalist Cassandra Wilson, drummer Roy Haynes and the all-star band Monterey Jazz Festival. Barron dedicated the concert to the recently departed jazz. pianist Mulgrew Miller.

The duo performed originals such as Barron’s “Spiral” and “Calypso” and Holland’s “In Your Arms” and Pass It On”. There’s a helping of familiar oldies such as “In Walked Bud” and “So What”. Barron stretched out mostly on the originals and Holland on the oldies, stripping to the grain Miles Davis’ “So What and Billy Strayhorn’s ”Day Dream”. 

The music seemed to move through Holland vital organs, and he became animated, moving his left leg like a kick boxer. Barron played ballads at grown-folks groove. Their styles are different. Holland is an improvisational specialist and Barron is finesse driven. The styles work together.