But Beautiful is an album of duets by pianist Kenny Barron and vibraphonist Joe Locke.

According to Locke, the musicians' goal was to create an album of instrumental ballads while maintaining "a vocal quality in the music.

"[1][2][3] In a review for AllMusic, Ken Dryden wrote: "this is a lively release where both musicians 'sing' on their respective instruments...

This strongly recommended CD should be considered a high-priority acquisition for fans of Joe Locke and/or Kenny Barron.

"[4] The Chicago Tribune's Howard Reich remarked: "An album as soft-spoken, understated and musically sophisticated as this probably would not have had much of a chance with a major American record company...