Tandem 2 was released a few months after
Tandem 1. It also features the duo of
John Carter (clarinet) and
Bobby Bradford (cornet). The last two pieces of the April 1982 concert in Worcester, MA, heard on the previous album are included as the last two tracks on this second volume. The other 50 minutes of music on
Tandem 2 constitute the whole of an October 1979 performance in Los Angeles. The sound quality is flawed: flat, lifeless, and with much signal overload. Producer
Martin Davidson did what he could to clean up the tapes, but the results remain for fans only. The performance includes many repeats from
Tandem 1, even though -- since this is free jazz -- there are countless differences. "Tandem," "Woodman's Hall Blues," "Echoes From Rudolph's," and "Woman" were included on the other CD in versions with better sound quality. Of interest is the latter piece, here performed as a cornet solo, while the other version had
Carter circular breathing strings of low notes as an accompaniment. "Woodman's Hall Blues" is also worth the shot, here being performed with more vivacity. "Sweet Sunset" and "Swiss Account" from the 1982 show are both highlights, and the real reason to seek this CD.
–
François Couture, Rovi