Bruno Heinen & James Kitchman - Rain Shadows (2023) [Official Digital Download]

Musical synergy was evident from the first two notes of Thelonious Monk’s ‘Bemsha Swing’ that were played by guitarist James Kitchman and pianist Bruno Heinen without any count-in, prior discussion, or eye contact. This was the opening night of a monthly residency held at Kansas Smitty’s jazz bar in East London in 2017. The duo has since developed a common improvisational language which takes influence from the chronology of great guitar/piano duos in jazz: Jim Hall and Bill Evans; through to Fred Hersh and Julian Lage.