January/February 2001

Tony Coe/Roger Kellaway
British-American Blue
Between The Lines

By Bill Bennett

Tony Coe and pianist Roger Kellaway's British-American Blue is a set of improvisations, save for a closing blues free from any preconception. They do a fine job of realizing their aim of finding contrapuntal space to share, though finding touchstones for the listener to which they can return is clearly more of a challenge. Coe, on C clarinet throughout, and Kellaway are clearly complementary in their approach to collaboration, and the results are interesting though seldom inspired.