This duo owes a debt to Hurricane Katrina, which drove Ernest out of New Orleans to his native North Carolina, specifically to the--relatively speaking--cultural wasteland of Greenville. Where, fortunately, he hooked up with Stephen, played & recorded with him, & with whom he plays every once in a while, to my delight.
Why are they so good? They play by constantly giving each other music to play off of, interweaving individual revelations. E.g., I wished I'd been able to record their version of "Round Midnight", in which Stephen typically for this gig excerpts Monk's phrases as Ernest plays his unique piano around, behind, & in front of Stephen's phrases. That they each play lovely solos only adds to the whole.
As good as I expect Nnenna Freelon & Scott Sawyer will be in their sold-out sets at Sharp Nine tonight, I feel like I've already heard the best jazz of the weekend...