There’s a special bond between fellow musicians. It is a dialogue on an elevated, intuitive plane. Add a friendship to that relationship and what results is a work of profound art. Jazz pianist Jeff Colella and bassist Putter Smith have released Between Friends, a collaborative album that follows their album Lotus Blossom. Rooted in intuitive interplay, the duo moves beyond familiar improvisational clichés to create a spontaneous musical conversation. The performance highlights a near-telepathic rapport between piano and upright bass, with rhythmic trust and unscripted choices at its core.

On my personal favorite track, “We Will Meet Again,” the duo plays with dynamics and trade ideas until the final phrase. Or is it? The conclusion resonates with a satisfying tone that inspires one to begin listening to the album all over again. This music is a conversation that never truly ends.