Enrico Rava / Fred Hersch

An encounter between two grand masters. One is a figurehead of the European avant-garde, but with an introspective side that is increasingly coming to the fore. The other is perhaps the most elegant American jazz pianist of his generation, but is not averse to experimentation. Not so long ago, they finally found one another on the ECM label with The Song Is You, a refined demonstration of their interaction as a pair. The nakedness of this direct dialogue forces the musicians to put their cards on the table. They subtly flirt with impressionism when performing standards, breathe new life into their own work, and - how could it be otherwise - venture into the oeuvre of Thelonious Monk. Without sentiment or cheap effects, they go straight to the heart of their art, with two well-filled lives as a common thread for this profound, universal narrative.