As a member of the razor sharp neo-modernist quartet Empirical since 2008, the young vibraphonist Lewis Wright revealed his conceptual, colouristic approach to improvisation that's influenced by Gary Burton and Bobby Hutcherson among others. His debut as leader shows there's a whole other side to his artistry. Wright leads a duet alongside new ECM artist and pianist Kit Downes (also a former member of Empirical, albeit very briefly). In fact, Wright and Downes' relationship stretches back to their early teenage years in Norfolk and Duets is indeed a tribute to the pair's innate chemistry and liquid synchronicity. On the whole it exhibits more lyrical, warmly impressionistic percussive qualities than Empirical's angular rhythmic set-up. Wright has written a very strong collection of atmospherically succinct, earworm originals which sound, for the most part, like future jazz standards. The sense of unity and clarity of piano and vibes resonates throughout this highly impressive and very musical debut.