Each month Peter Batten recommends a recording that jazz fans may wish to add to their personal library.

Kenny Barron & Charlie Haden: Night and the City

This is a wonderful live session which many fans seem to have missed. It was recorded in September 1996 at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York. Since he arrived on the scene over 50 years ago Kenny has been among the top ten jazz pianists. Charlie Haden, who died quite recently, was involved in all sorts of imaginative projects throughout his career. He was a source of inspiration for many other musicians. Here they combine to produce a beautiful relaxed swing. Listen to the flow of Kenny’s ideas on For Heaven’s Sake or Charlie’s simple but effective feature on You Don’t Know What Love Is. This is jazz music of the highest class.

[ Night and the City  was issued on Verve CD 539 961-2]