IT TAKES TWO. Sue Orfield (right) and Joan Hutton's latest collaborative album, Splash, is out now. (Submitted photos)

Two local music scene veterans are making a splash with their latest jazz compositions.

Prolific jazz musicians Sue Orfield and Joan Hutton, based in the Chippewa Valley and Twin Cities respectively, just released their second collaborative album, Splash – an 11-song effort on Shifting Paradigm Records. The album is a crash course in traditional jazz, featuring the magnificent melodic dueling of bass clarinet and tenor sax courtesy of the powerhouse duo. The record is similar in style to their 2022 album, Take That Back, this time building on their strengths and leaning into their fruitful onstage chemistry.

“Recording always feels like something we have to do,” Orfield said. “We are drawn to making art that can be listened to far and wide, and that is really the reason we record. We want to share our music, plain and simple. There is also joy in the process of really seeing your music come to life in a studio. We love it.”

The name for the new collection of tunes was inspired by an early idea from Hutton.

“Splash started as the name of a tune I wrote,” Hutton said. “At the time I was writing it, I had a new puppy who liked to wildly splash around in his water dish, or in any water. As we began developing a theme for the album based on memories of our childhoods, Splash seemed like a term that brought to mind childhood fun, so it seemed like the right album title. We also felt like it should be the opening track, so it fit nicely as the album title too.”

Splash is available now on all streaming platforms. The group’s album release show is slated for 7:30pm on Friday, Sept. 6, at the Mabel Tainter in Menomonie. Tickets are available online.