Blair/Huber: ‘Eclipse’

From the opening “I’m Ready” of the title track, it is clear that ‘Eclipse’ from Darius Blair and Niko Huber is right up there with the best of modern jazz in our post-pandemic world.

Eclipse comes from the Blair/Huber duo which began at the start of those lockdowns that were both disastrous and inspiring for creativity. The duo’s inspirational output is brought to the world by Leiter today.

These nine brief tracks are all built around melodies, often - as in Chasing Down Lessing Street - with sax and guitar echoing and mirroring each other. When we reach Titan, we are presented with simplicity and beauty that feels deeply moving, including subtle percussion touches from Khadim Seck.

There’s a great sense of collective skill and connection. We are told that Blair (sax) and Huber (guitar) have a laid-back approach to their creativity, steeped in mastery of their instruments. Blair says: “I really believe in the magic of music and when you create that special atmosphere, when you can hear a pin drop, that’s as rewarding as it gets.” Given they often rehearse in armchairs, Huber adds. “Sometimes people ask why we play like this, but it’s best to chill out, then see what works.”

Throughout Eclipse, less is definitely more. Both sax and guitar sing with their own voices and this debut album promises much from the Blair/Huber pairing.

Find out more about ‘Eclipse’ here