Album Notes

OneUpOneDown
OneUpOneDown may be classified as a jazz group, but its co-creators Paul Shrofel and Cameron Wallis prefer to think of it as a creative music ensemble. In their view, the duo is an artistic partnership, which expresses itself through a musical dialogue. OneUpOneDown is a rare phenomenon of synchronicity, as their music is something that can only be developed over time--years in fact--which is a luxury that most modern music ensembles can scarcely afford. Wallis and Shrofel have shared both a friendship and musical partnership for over a decade. Their relationship stemmed from the desire to develop their individual artistry on the bandstand, and in the recording studio.

OneUpOneDown could be described as romantic or even melancholic at times, yet there is no mistaking a certain intensity in their diverse repertoire. The distinctive sound of this duo is drawn from a broad palette of musical influences, making classifications difficult to pinpoint. The experimental project 1+1 with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock comes to mind, as well as similar artistic endeavors by Pat Metheny and Charlie Haden, and Stan Getz with Kenny Barron. All too many times, recorded jazz duo attempts remain reminiscent in sound to typical trios or quartets.

OneUpOneDown distinguishes itself by focusing on the duo as a distinct musical setting, with a broad scope of possibilities unique to the intimacy of the duo and its instrumentation. Compositionally, both Wallis and Shrofel share a flare for beautiful melodic and harmonic writing, while demonstrating maturity in their ability to convey only what is essential to the music. It is the goal of OneUpOneDown to maintain an organic, ego-less approach to their art. They are musically intuitive, sharing a respect for each other and their art form, producing a strikingly original and inspired sound. OneUpOneDown has become a primary artistic outlet for Shrofel and Wallis, and with the release of Preface, they are excited to be sharing it with a broader audience and establishing their place in today's music scene.