Freefall offers 10 duets between violinist Regina Carter and pianist Kenny Barron. They have already guested on each other's recent albums, and their rapport is evident from the first choruses of the opening "Softly as in a Morning Sunrise". Carter has established herself as a jazz talent of rare individuality and range, and in concert with the incomparable Barron she reaches new heights of invention and virtuosity. Their reading of Monk's "Mysterioso" is both pungent and puckish, and they imbue Sting's "Fragile" with apposite tenderness as they milk to the full its intriguing lines. Other highlights include Wayne Shorter's "Footprints", Hodges's "Squatty Roo", the challenging, near free-form title track and the 11-minute "Phantoms", one of four Barron compositions featured. At times one needs forcibly to remind oneself that only two are at the microphone, such is the orchestral richness of their work. In that respect Freefall recalls Barron's stunning duo album with Stan Getz, People Time, and it is recommended no less strongly. --Richard Palmer