‘Guitarist Tim Langedijk and bassist Paul Berner’s new duo album, Down To The Downtown, is a true treat for enthusiasts. Tim plays two exquisite acoustic Gibsons: a 1954 J-45 and a 1951 Southern Jumbo. Paul brings depth with a double bass from Tirol, circa 1900. The purity of just a guitar and a bass is all you hear, as the nine tracks, a mix of well-known and lesser-known pieces, were recorded without any frills using a single 3-capsule microphone. The result is a remarkably relaxed and intimate album.
Simplicity and clarity were the guiding principles during the recording session. Despite the complexity of some pieces, they sound effortlessly easy on this recording, and the simpler songs come alive, gaining unexpected depth in Tim and Paul’s hands. Throughout the album, the musicians take their time, with no sense of hurry. You can almost picture them sitting in the sun on a typical American porch in the lazy deep South. That’s the kind of atmosphere they create. It’s a delightful listening experience.
Though Tim and Paul were aware of each other’s work, their duo only formed after a chance meeting in their shared hometown of Haarlem, where they discovered they were practically neighbors. This serendipitous encounter led them to the legendary Studio 2 at the Dutch Music Center of Broadcasters (MCO). Renowned bassist Peter Bjørnild co-produced the album with Tim and Paul, while engineer extraordinaire Frans de Rond handled the technical aspects.’
JazzFlits, Hans Invernizzi
