As prolific as pianist, composer and bandleader Satoko Fujii has been, she has usually been either in her element or at least (playing accordion and synthesizer in husband Natsuki Tamura�s groups) just down the street. It�s been interesting in the last few years to see her take on some different kinds of challenges with some pleasantly unexpected duo encounters: the surprising punch of a meeting with punk-prog drummer Tatsuya Yoshida (Toh-Kichi, Victo, 2002), an appealing duet with violinist Carla Kihlstedt (Minamo, Henceforth, 2007), a second volume for which is reportedly on the way), and now this, a pairing with pianist Myra Melford.

Under the Water is a particularly nice surprise. Piano duos are, in themselves, rare things, with less of an established syntax and a rich vocabulary. And more could not be asked of the Fujii / Melford meeting. Their individual sensibilities are both fully present, but the occasion also creates its own sensibility. Each of the women gets a solo (both about 12 minutes) and both contribute compositions as well. There are bits of �extended� playing, but for the most part they focus on the instrument�s full, lush voice with strong chordal patterns and swift melodic runs. The disc closes with a shared improvisation filled with the broad dynamics laid out across the rest of the set. Under the Water is a wholly satisfying encounter.