In a way, saxist Tim Berne and pianist Ethan Iverson’s duo gig at the Stone on Friday began online a few days earlier. Last Monday, Iverson—best known for his work with The Bad Plus—posted a fascinating long-form interview with Berne on his blog, Do the Math, and the show’s intimate nature made it seem like a continuation of that wide-ranging chat. As in the Q&A, the contrast between the two musicians (pictured, as half of the collaborative quartet Buffalo Collison: from left, Berne, Iverson, cellist Hank Roberts and drummer Dave King) was striking in the live setting: If their rapport seemed uneasy at times, it also displayed a compelling tension.

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