Something in Common

by Scott YanowHouston Person is one of the last in a long line of thick-toned tenors who display soul in every note they play while bassist Ron Carter's versatility is legendary (it seems as if he has spent half of his life in recording studios). Their duet CD, although not inevitable, works out quite well. Carter not only sets the rhythms behind Person but sometimes plays chords (à la Count Basie guitarist Freddie Green) or the melody in unison with the tenor, continually keeping the music flowing in an unhurried and relaxed fashion. None of the selections (seven standards plus "Blues for Two") are taken faster than mid-tempo and Person has been chewing up these chord changes for years, so the main attractions of this date are the instrumentation and the strong interplay between Person and Carter. The results are both relaxed and successful. [A Japanese version added a bonus track.]