Adrean Farrugia - Joel Frahm - Blued Dharma (2018)

Long time collaborators and bandmates Adrean Farrugia and Joel
Frahm explore the musical possibilities of jazz piano and
saxophone on Blued Dharma with a playful and melodic take. The
release offers an intriguing variety of expression and
approaches.

In "Blued Dharma," the title track, the two instruments wind in
and around each other in melodic abandon. Frahm is a gifted
player who can wring an endless melodic variety out of any
chord progression. The songs, all written by Farrugia with the
exception of "Cherokee" by Roy Noble and "Nobody Else But Me" by
Jerone Kern/Oscar Hammerstein, offer familiar jazz structure
and improvisational sections.

"Cool Beans" is a highlight of the release, with a rhythmic
piano riff that bounces off a languid sax melody, gradually
ramping it up to a superbly tangled knot of bluesy melody and
drive. In "For Murray Gold," Frahm offers a pure tone that
matches the sombre mood of the piece. There are two versions of
Noble's "Cherokee." The first, "Cherokee II," is a kinetic track
with a relentless sense of momentum and an exuberant energy,
while "Cherokee I" mines the melodic rather than rhythmic
elements of the song.

Recognizing their musical compatibility after playing together
in ensembles headed by Toronto drummer Ernesto Cervini for
several years, Farrugia and Frahm got together to record the
duo album in a single session at Tedesco Studio in New Jersey in
August 2017. They bring a symbiotic energy to a combination of
instruments that's not often heard from.