Here are two of my favorite explorers, captured in a marvelous series of duets. My title may seem a touch fanciful: the only climb a session at The Drawing Room, Michael Kanan and Stephanie Greig’s serene studio, necessitates, is a few flights of stairs. But the music created the night of May 20, 2017, by Lena Bloch, tenor saxophone, and Roberta Piket, piano, makes me think of limitless vistas full of stars. Listen and I think you will agree.
LENNIE’S PENNIES (Tristano’s minor-key improvisation on PENNIES FROM HEAVEN, first recorded with Konitz and Warne in 1952):
Lena’s ruminative composition, SHORTER NIGHTS:
Tristano’s line on the classic song — theoretically requested by drunks, but the drunks no longer know it. You do, even when you are sober:
Improvsations on a lovely Fifties ballad, NEVER LET ME GO:
and, to close the recital, an explosively energized HOT HOUSE:
What beauty and what quiet courage.
May your happiness increase!
JAZZ LIVES 
Where have these ladies been all my jazz life? both are highly recommended by yours truly. And their material is not easy. Loved MELANCHOLY, juiced or sober, and Tadd Dameron’s HOT HOUSE version of Porter’s WHAT IS THIS SONG CALLED LOVE? Please, Michael, bring this duo out of hiding.