Quest, a collaboration between saxophonist Dave Liebman and pianist Richie Beirach with, variously, Ron McLure or George Mraz on bass and Al Foster or Billy Hart on drums, was one of the better bands of the 1980s, although largely forgotten today. They left behind seven excellent albums, all worth chasing in the second-hand market, and were reunited in 2005 with the release of Redemption: Live in Europe and most recently in February 2014 at the Birdland jazz club in New York City. With Beirach now gainfully employed as Professor of Jazz Piano at the Leipzig Conservatory, it seems the opportunity for further collaborations is limited, such as this one-off encounter recorded in April 2015 in Zerkall, Germany. As the title makes clear, this is an album of ballads, masterfully played by two musicians who have performed together since the 1960s. With Liebman, you never get the feeling of his leaving anything left unsaid, a player who gives his all every time, while Beirach equally delivers at the highest level of creativity. They really should get together more often.