Nothing pleases an audition lover more than the surprise of an album received at some fortuitous meetings between outstanding musicians in an ongoing creativity, sharing their spaces and inspiration in a sonorous and naturally exposed intimacy, spontaneously, in a lightly intimidating way.

Iiro Rantala and Ulf Wakenius are globetrotting musicians being in an almost unending tour as leaders of their own projects. Their meeting in Berlin makes us believe that, indeed, nothing happens accidentally. When they were invited at a concert in the memory of Esbjorn Svensson, the two of them agreed on forming a duet in no time. The acoustic combination between the piano and the guitar is not so common, although the peculiar duet Brad Mehldau/ Pat Metheny remains a point of reference. In October 2017, it is released "Good Stuff", a modern and spacious album including perfectly chosen pieces to express the emotion and the class of the two Scandinavians who disarm us with their warmth and musicality. Excepting the collected pieces, each title represents a city mood. "Vienna" sounds like Mozart would have sounded if he had been a nowadays jazz musician, "Seoul" combines the Korean tradition with the new metropolis' vibration, Helsinki seems a relaxing location and Rome rustles between its seven hills.

A wonderful album, full of places and veneration which delights us with every note. Iiro Rantala and Ulf Wakenius definitely had to cross their paths.