Duets 2001

Born 1929 in Monroe, Louisiana, tenor saxophonist Fred Anderson came to Chicago in the late 1930s where he would leave an indelible mark on the city's jazz scene of the last 40 years. A founding member of the AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians), an organization which has done much to support the most adventurous spirit of Chicago jazz, Anderson has played alongside such noteworthy musicians as Joseph Jarman, Hamid Drake, Ken Vandermark, and Von Freeman to name but a few.

Drummer Robert Barry is one of Chicago's best known freelance drummers, having started playing in the late 1940's at the age of 15. In that time, he's played with many of the most notable names in jazz including Miles Davis, Gene Ammons, and Johnny Griffin. Perhaps he is best known for his work with Sun Ra, having been a founding member of the Arkestra, Robert performed with the legendary keyboardist from 1954-1979.

After having performed together only once before, this historic performance was recorded at Chicago's Empty Bottle in May of 1999. Anderson described the night as "one of those rare moments when everything comes together." This is truly evident on the album, as Barry notes the tunes "great momentum" as the set wears on. Anderson and Barry found a musical language of uncommon understanding that night.