Road To Nowhere, Stephen / Haugland Jones, CD

From intimate readings of jazz standards to their wide-ranging originals, the duo of saxophonist Stephen Jones and pianist Ben Haugland display an easy and compelling rapport. Now anchoring the jazz program at Texas Tech, they both have had long careers teaching, publishing, recording and performing - with each passing through the North Texas 1:00 O'Clock Lab Band at different times. Inspired by the musical challenges of duo performances, they have developed a masterful and imaginative dynamic that coalesces on jazz classics such as "Without a Song" and John Lewis's "Milestones," or through their 5 melodic originals. They're also joined on two compositions by trumpeter and colleague Kevin Whalen.