Soprano and tenor saxophonist John Butcher and double bassist John Edwards first recorded together on November 5th and 6th 1999 when they and soprano saxophone and bagpipes player (yes, true) Paul Dunmall performed at "Podwell", Berlin, during Total Music Meeting; the resulting recording, Hit and Run, was released on FMP in September 2001. On May 25th 2000 at the Standard Music Venue in Walthamstow, London, and on September 17th 2000 at the Red Rose in Holloway, London, the quartet of Chris Burn on piano and percussion, Rhodri Davies on harp, Butcher on soprano or tenor saxophone, and Edwards on double bass, recorded the album The First Two Gigs, which was released on Emanem in September 2001. At L'Archiduc, in Brussels, in January 2001 and at Fundacio Joan Miro — Nits de Musica, Barcelona, in July 2002, Butcher and Edwards played together and recorded as a duo for the first time, the resulting album, Optic, being released on Emanem in April 2003.

From 2003 to 2025, Butcher's and Edwards' status as improvising players steadily continued to grow, and both were soon regarded as being among the best musicians on their instruments. Each of them was a regular and admired member of the London Improvisers Orchestra, so they became familiar with each other's style. However, it was not until 2009 that they again recorded together — one track out of four, recorded at Café Oto, London — released in 2013. After that, only seven more albums featuring Butcher and Edwards together have been released, including three albums of their duo, Scene and Recalled (Weight of Wax, 2020), Lower Marsh (Ni-Vu-Ni-Connu, 2024) and, now, This Is Not Speculation (Fundacja Stuchaj, 2025)...

Straight from the opening notes of each of the four pieces which comprise This Is Not Speculation, it is obvious that Butcher and Edwards know each other's playing inside out and can respond to one another instantly, without hesitation. Neither of them sounds as if they are leading the other as they intertwine, reacting to what they are hearing, rather than something they have rehearsed — a talent which must be the envy of many lesser improvising players. In a nutshell, this is two of the very best at their best.