| Jazz |
With Inner Play, percussionist, drummer, composer, and sonic adventurer Tom Teasley offers one of the most compelling releases in his ongoing The Art of the Duo series. Joined by the exceptional trumpeter and flugelhornist Dave Ballou, Teasley demonstrates once again that profound musical richness does not depend on the number of musicians involved, but on the quality of communication between them.
At first glance, the project seems almost audacious. There is no piano, no guitar, no bass, no keyboards. The entire album rests upon the interaction between a percussionist and a brass player. With such a format there is nowhere to hide: every note, every gesture, every silence becomes essential.
Yet from the very first moments of Inner Play, any concerns about musical limitations immediately disappear. The listener is drawn into a world of colour, imagination, lyricism, and rhythmic invention that feels remarkably complete.
Tom Teasley has long been recognized as one of America’s most versatile percussion artists. Throughout his distinguished career, he has collaborated with jazz musicians, classical ensembles, world music masters, dancers, filmmakers, and poets. His approach to percussion has always gone far beyond conventional drumming. Rather than merely marking time, he creates entire sonic landscapes, transforming percussion instruments into vehicles for melody, atmosphere, and storytelling.
Dave Ballou is equally impressive. A highly respected trumpeter, composer, arranger, and educator, he has developed a distinctive voice that combines technical brilliance with emotional depth. His trumpet playing can move effortlessly from bold declarations to intimate whispers, while his flugelhorn performances possess an extraordinary warmth and humanity. Throughout Inner Play, Ballou demonstrates why he is regarded as one of the most creative brass musicians of his generation.
The Inner Play album forms part of Teasley’s remarkable The Art of the Duo project, a long-term exploration of musical dialogue through intimate collaborations. The concept is deceptively simple: place two musicians together and allow conversation, listening, and mutual discovery to become the driving forces behind the music. What emerges is often far richer than the sum of its parts, and Inner Play stands among the finest examples of this artistic philosophy.
One of the most admirable qualities of this album is the absolute equality of the partnership. Neither musician attempts to dominate the proceedings. There are no battles for attention, no displays of ego, and no unnecessary virtuoso excesses. Instead, Teasley and Ballou engage in a continuous exchange of ideas, each listening as carefully as they play. Their complementarity is so complete that the music often feels as though it is being generated by a single creative consciousness expressed through two distinct voices.
Throughout the twelve tracks, Teasley frequently transcends the traditional role of drummer or percussionist. At times he seems less like a musician and more like a magician of rhythmic sounds, conjuring entire worlds from an astonishing variety of instruments.
A perfect example is “Woodpecker’s Dilemma”. Here Teasley performs on Black Swamp Woodblocks, transforming what might appear to be a simple percussion instrument into a source of remarkable rhythmic poetry. The piece is playful, inventive, and endlessly fascinating.
Another undeniable highlight and arguably one of the album’s masterpieces is “Where the Ocean Meets the Sky”. On this breathtaking track, Teasley performs on the RAV Vast drum, whose resonant metallic tones create an atmosphere of serenity and wonder. Ballou responds on flugelhorn, producing some of the most beautiful sounds on the entire album. The result is pure musical enchantment. The piece seems to float effortlessly between smooth jazz, meditation, and sound painting, creating an experience that is both intimate and transcendent. Few listeners will encounter this track without feeling deeply moved.
Elsewhere on the album, the duo explores a wide variety of moods and textures. Some pieces emphasize rhythmic interplay, while others focus on melody and atmosphere. Yet regardless of the musical direction, the quality of listening remains extraordinary. Every phrase appears perfectly placed, every response perfectly judged.
What makes Inner Play particularly rewarding is the richness of its sonic palette. Despite the apparent simplicity of the instrumentation, the album never feels limited. Teasley’s arsenal of percussion instruments generates a constantly evolving range of colours and textures, while Ballou’s trumpet and flugelhorn provide melodic depth, emotional resonance, and lyrical beauty.
The twelve compositions unfold like chapters in a carefully crafted narrative. Each track possesses its own identity, yet all contribute to a coherent artistic vision. There is an unmistakable sense of light throughout the album, a luminous quality that emerges from the musicians’ generosity, sensitivity, and shared commitment to serving the music above all else.
In an era where many recordings seek to impress through complexity, volume, or technological sophistication, Inner Play achieves something far more valuable. It reminds us of the power of genuine musical conversation.
Through trust, imagination, and mutual respect, Tom Teasley and Dave Ballou have created an album of rare elegance and lasting beauty.
As part of The Art of the Duo series, Inner Play stands as a shining example of what can happen when two master musicians meet on equal ground. The result is twelve tracks of luminous beauty, rich in colour, emotion, and discovery. It is an album that rewards repeated listening and confirms both Teasley and Ballou as artists of exceptional creativity and humanity.
In a word, Inner Play is a triumph: intimate yet expansive, sophisticated yet accessible, and filled from beginning to end with the joy of musical communication.
Frankie Pfeiffer
Editor in chief – PARIS-MOVE
PARIS-MOVE, June 21st, 2026
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Musicians:
Tom Teasley – percussion, drums, handpan, melodica, electronics
Dave Ballou – trumpet, flugelhorn
Tracklisting:
- Electric Embers 03:12
- Woodpecker’s Dilemma 03:58
- Where the Ocean Meets the Sky 03:56
- Elephant Dance 03:16
- Prelude and Interplay 05:32
- Reflection 03:12
- Outside Inn 07:01
- Fingers 04:04
- Matador’s Lament 03:27
- Memories of Muscat 05:06
- Anticipate the Good 03:48
- Inner Joy 02:18