Neck of the Woods Edition Records *****

A Norwegian tuba and saxophone duet might suggest a somewhat austere palate but Daniel Herskedal and Marius Neset completely confound that expectation here, creating a highly original sound world that is lush and, frankly, gorgeous. Herskedal expertly coaxes a variety of tones and drones from his tuba and supplies the lion's share of the compositions, while overdubs and a male voice choir add another dimension on several tracks. It is Neset however who really lifts Neck of the Woods to another level. With every breath, the young saxophonist is sounding more and more like the next big thing on either side of the Atlantic, with a broad and already mature conception of the saxophone that blends the muscle of Michael Brecker and the inventiveness of Wayne Shorter with the ethereality of Jan Garbarek. Unusual, accessible, enchanting and uplifting – what more do you want from two guys blowing into metal tubes? editionrecords.com