Tenor saxophonist Sauer, who will be 80 on Christmas Day, has a bleating, wounded-mammal sound like Archie Shepp, allied to an exquisite sensitivity on ballads that recalls Ben Webster.

His partnership with the youthful pianist Wollny has been a highlight of the past jazz decade, and this recent duo from Darmstadt begins with three absolutely storming performances on "All Blues", "Nothing Compares 2 U", and "Don't Explain". Dylan's "Make You Feel My Love" is pretty good, too.