Gary Husband & Alex Machecek: Now

Known to some as the drummer with clean-limbed 1980s sophisto- pop group Level 42, and to others as the keyboardist in John McLaughlin's stellar 4th Dimension group, Gary Husband is one of the UK's best-kept jazz secrets. There aren't many musicians who can play at that level on one instrument, let alone two. Here Husband duets on acoustic piano with Austrian guitarist Alex Machacek. The two share the compositional duties on an approachably melodic set, which, for the most part, steers clear of the well-worn clichés of the piano-and-guitar genre, invoking at times the breezy spirit of Pat Metheny and Lyall Mays. A string of compliments from Chick Corea by way of a sleeve note is a ringing endorsement from one of Husband's more obvious influences. abtractlogix.com