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Doubled instruments don't always mean doubled pleasure, but jazz great Herb Ellis and seasoned roots stylist Duke Robillard imparts just the right amount of contrast and just the right amount of chemistry to make for a memorable collaboration. This sequel to 1999's Conversations in Swing Guitar never falls back on swing convention or swing nostalgia, attaining an up-to-the-minute vitality. Varying his tangy Texas tone to spot-on effect on tunes ranging from the jazz classic "Just You, Just Me," to Robillard's torch-worthy "Blues for Terry," Ellis slides magnetically across the beat even as he propels it. Robillard, who produced the album, answers with fuller-bodied phrases that pay homage to Ellis' generation while reflecting the eclectic approach of his own era.