This lovely record is Grace Kelly's second alto summit meeting. The first, GRACEfulLEE, was with Lee Konitz, and took place when this amazing young woman was all of 15. Still in her teens at this encounter with her "inspiration and hero" Phil Woods, it reveals, as she points out in her informative notes (which, along with the encomiums from Phil and Monty Alexander, leave me with little of significance to say), a different perspective on the jazz and alto saxophone traditions. Much of the music she made with Lee (which is a must-hear) was on-the-spot invention, while this pairing required more planning. (It's interesting that, at this writing, Lee and Phil were planning to record together.)

The splendid supporting cast includes key members of Grace's and Phil's regular groups, bassist Evan Gregor, born in 1983 and with the young altoist for three years, and drummer Bill Goodwin, who's been with Phil for what to this fan seems like forever (actually since 1974!), and for some special seasoning, the one and only Monty Alexander, who brightens any musical scene. (I've never seen an audience that Monty couldn't bring to its feet--which he'd kept tapping.) This triumvirate enhances what Phil and Grace are up to here, which is making beautiful music, with a (to this listener) most welcome emphasis on melody.