From its very opening bars, a luxuriantly voiced chordal introduction to ‘Estate’, this meeting between pianist-vocalist Tania Maria and bassist Eddie Gomez is marked by a tangible empathy and playing of real expressive warmth. The duo feel the internal pulse of ‘Sentado A Beira Do Caminho’ absolutely as one, the bass working around and riffing against the percussive, left-hand off-beats of the piano. Their articulation and phrasing on ballads such as Jobim/Bonfa's ‘A Chuva Caiu’ allows the melodic beauty of this music to take centre stage, without overloading it with textural or harmonic baggage. Paying homage to Mr Monk with its start-stop phrasing and unusual chromaticisms, the pianist's self-penned instrumental ‘Yeah Man’ is terrific. Loveliest of all is ‘Senso Unico’, primarily based around a simple two-chord vamp and featuring a brief bowed solo from Gomez of such touching expressivity that it would bring tears to the eyes of a wild donkey.