Blair Huber: ‘In a New Order’

Out today, ‘In a New Order’ comes from Darius Blair and Niko Huber and it resounds with groove. Blair’s sax weaves in and around Huber’s guitar in a way that shouldn’t sound so complete, but really does.

Starting with No Ground, this duo shines as each player develops their independent lines in total collaboration with the other: there is something minimalist yet expansive in the result.

Track two is Nothing Personal, released as the lead single and something of an ear worm from the opening, playful phrases. The melodic line unison and harmony phrases of Room to Room sit alongside the groove that the duo seems to effortlessly embody right through to the final fading notes.

When we finally reach the title track, this music really is In a New Order, with an almost mesmeric interplay between sax and guitar, with neither musician playing more than is strictly necessary.

This album has been a few years in the making and the duo made a conscious decision not to bring in more instrumentation. Huber says: “At the beginning it was pretty hard, but we started to relax and enjoy all the space without needing to fill it up.” Blair, too, recalls having to adapt. “As a player, it was an unfamiliar situation sonically. None of the typical jazz tricks of playing this or that lick worked. I started to look for other people playing in this formation, and I really didn't find a lot. That alone made it an interesting challenge.” 

Blair/Huber’s ‘In a New Order’ is out now and available on Bandcamp