Ron Carter & Yotam Silberstein: Duets

Summer music can be hot, humid, and hip shaking, or a mellow respite from the heat. And the recent recording by legendary bassist Ron Carter and guitarist Yotam Silberstein, “Duets,” is the latter. It provides you with some restful shade.

The Boise Jazz Society heard Silberstein when his trio came to Boise in 2024. His nimble and sensitive guitar work was an eye-opener, at least to me, and teaming up with Carter brings us something special.

Recorded in part to honor Carter’s three albums with guitarist Jim Hall, “Duets” consists of standards and two compositions by Silberstein, “Blues for Brother Malone” and “Rain Again.”

It begins with “Nova Ilusao,” a piece that gently takes us to Brazil, where we saunter slowly along the beach—you can feel the ocean breeze cooling us off.

“Blues for Brother Malone” starts slowly with Carter accenting Silberstein’s crystal clear notes. Carter’s bass then gets your foot tapping, and Yotam overlays the bass line with fluid and laid-back movement on the fretboard. Carter takes his turn, and they close with a gentle fade-out. Time for a sip of that adult beverage.

“What Is There to Say” puts the focus on Carter, and his easygoing solo outshines the sun.

The entire album is a cool drink on a hot day. And I dare say that the artists’ deft work and easy improvisation will warm you in the winter as well.

Release: June 5, 2026

Tracks

1. Nova Ilusão (Claudionor Cruz e Pedro Caetano)
2. Love Letters (Victor Young)
3. Blues For Brother Malone (Yotam Silberstein)
4. Rain Again (Yotam Silberstein)
5. Lamp Is Low (Peter DeRose & Bert Shefter)
6. What Is There To Say (Vernon Duke)
7. They Say It's Wonderful (Irving Berlin)
8. Mil Dew (Johnny Griffin)

Links

Blues for Brother Malone (Video)
Nova Ilusão (Video)
Ron Carter’s website
Yotam Silberstein’s website