Poryes' approach to arranging involves sophistication with warmth and open-ended possibilities. As a result, American songbook gems sound fresh and invigorating...
Bay Area pianist Debbie Poryes and New York-based multi-woodwind player Bruce Williamson bring uncommon flexibility to their interpretations of iconic bebop and post bop tunes, American songbook standards and original compositions. Adventurous and spontaneous, at turns moody and jubilant, with many varieties of grooves - even with this unpredictability, the arrangements are clear & coherent and listeners will be immediately charmed as they enter the sonic world of these two exceptional artists.
Track Listing:
1 You Bet I Do 5:29
2 Speak No Evil 6:08
3 In My Life 6:13
4 Easy Living 5:52
5 Moment's Notice 7:12
6 Lost Souls 7:27
7 Sippin' At Bells 3:19
8 Gone With the Wind 5:25
9 Ol' Man River 8:40
Performers:
Debbie Poryes - piano
Bruce Williamson - alto and soprano sax, clarinet, bass clarinet, flute
Production Info:
Produced by Debbie Poryes & Mark North
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Bruce Mishkit
at Deva Productions, Lafayette, CA
on July 16, 17 & 19, 2010
Mixed by Bruce Mishkit & Debbie Poryes
Artist photography by Reenie Raschke
Cover photographs by Chad McCullough
Cover design by John Bishop
Reviews of Two and Fro
Jazz Society of Oregon (George Fendel)
Any duo worth it's salt can bring to the table a sort of intimacy one doesn't always find in other musical settings. Poryes and Williamson have a lot going for themselves in this heartwarming performance. Williamson plays nearly everything with a reed, and Poryes is equally skilled as accompanist as she is soloist. Each contributes an original tune ...
Jazz Society of Oregon (Kyle O'Brien)
Jazz has either gotten quieter or louder, depending on the new releases you hear, no matter the genre. Younger musicians seem to be gravitating towards more instruments, more textures and louder volumes. Seasoned musicians have often opted to pare down their groups, experimenting with duos, trios and solo albums. This disc falls into the latter cat ...
All Music Guide (Ken Dryden)
Pianist Debbie Poryes included multi-reed player Bruce Williamson as a member of the quartet on her first OA2 CD, but on her second CD for the label, it is just the two of them. There are several oft-recorded standards, though none of them sound the least bit hackneyed. The striking extended workout of "Ol' Man River" never loses sight of the famou ...
Cadence (Larry Hollis)
Another meeting of two souls is chronicled in 'Two & Fro'. A sort of West Coast (CA) meets East Coast (NY) with pianist Debbie Poryes and master-reedman Bruce Williamson putting their heads together on a mix of evergreens, a pair of Jazz staples and an original each. Like Dorothy Leigh and Alva Nelson, these two are no strangers to one another. ...
