Fast Mood (1999)

"It took more than 30 years for the paths of these two French jazz giants to cross, and such encounters always raise a lot of expectations. Their different concept of freedom in music is surely what kept them apart for so long. Solal's cerebral piano playing can be perceived as a sharp contrast to Portal's emotional clarinet and saxophone playing style. This probably explains why "Fast Mood" seems to be the pianist's date. The session does not leave much room for spontaneity, and the relatively short pieces do not give either musician the chance to stretch out. "Duo à 3 Voix," which features overdubs, also suggests that their duets were well planned and rehearsed. But the compositions are often enticing, and their moodiness and concision surely justify the album's title. It is also a real pleasure to hear Portal following Solal in his every twist and turn, but there are too few sparks to make this opus a truly convincing effort. This will surely please fans of Solal and Portal." (Alain Drouot, Allmusic)