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Keith Moore Mitchell, called "Red" was born in New York City on September 20, 1927. His untimely death on November 8, 1992, left a hole in the music world but fortunately his music will forever be around thanks in part to the digital world. Multifaceted Renaissance man, he was a composer, lyricist, musician, and poet who performed with the who's who over his career: Mundell Lowe, Woody Herman, Gerry Mulligan, Andre Previn, Shelly Manne, and Billie Holiday to name a few. He had moved to Stockholm in 1968 and performed with Lee Konitz, Jim Hall, Hank Jones, Phil Woods, and others. He liked the collaboration that existed in duos. Like "Red", Bill Mays has performed with and/or recorded with the who's who throughout the jazz and pop genres, that has included Gerry Mulligan, Frank Zappa, Buddy Collette, Bud Shank, Art Pepper, Tom Scott, and rock-and-roll at the Whiskey A-Go-Go. Together, these two giants have recorded one of their best albums, as expressed by Fanfare, Music Connection, Turntable, Keyboard Magazine, Billboard, Op Magazine, and Cadence. This acoustically collaborated duo album consists of standards like "Laura" and "Waltz New". A perfect blend of two outstanding musicians. Recorded during the same time when the two of them were working together at Bradley's in New York in the '80s. Sidebar about Bradley's in NYC: it lasted from 1969 to 1996. You could see every famous pianist and bassist there on any night of the week. You would hear the best of the finest playing duo there. On piano it might be Hank Jones, Tommy Flanagan, Barry Harris, Jimmy Rowles, Kenny Barron, Cedar Walton, or Larry Willis. And on bass you'd have Sam Jones, Red Mitchell, George Mraz, Ray Drummond, you name it. There were just fantastic combinations. It was the hangout that didn't close until 4AM. After Paul Desmond passed away, he left his Baldwin piano to the club. It was a social club. It was like the Elks Club of jazz musicians in New York--young and old.

Track Listing

Press Quotes

Pianist Bill Mays' recorded debut as a leader was long overdue (he was already 38) and unfortunately doomed to obscurity, since the ITI label did not last long. That is a pity, for this exploratory yet often swinging set teams him in a set of inventive duets with bassist Red Mitchell. The duo stretches out on Jim Hall's 'Waltz New' and five familiar standards, coming up with all types of subtle surprises and reactions to each other's ideas. This is an album that yields new revelations each time it is played.

     —Scott Yanow, All Music Review