The Bebop Shop : West Coast & Cool: Baker, Mulligan, Getz & More : Lee Konitz
Jazz meets classical for our first selection "An Image"??perhaps?! Certainly William Russo?s arrangements to these songs add an extra dimension to the playing of Lee Konitz and a classical string quartet does rather enhance the classical flavour! The second selection "You And Lee" was, according to arranger Jimmy Guiffre, influenced by the old Jimmie Lunceford band where the six piece brass section would all rise to perform ballads bathed in a warm coloured light creating a wonderful mood with their closed muted horns. Artists appearing on this fine album include, on horns, Ernie Royal, Marky Markowitz and Phil Sunkle on trumpets; Bob Brookmeyer, Eddie Bert and Billy Byers on trombones; Lee on alto plus Bill Evans on piano, Sonny Dallas on bass, Roy Haynes on drums and Jim Hall on guitar. As mentioned in the original liner notes Lee is finally able to leave the Charlie Parker and Lester Young influences behind and become Lee Konitz! "In Harvard Square" is a driving four piece recording with Lee searching for freedom alongside Jeff Morton, Al Levitt, Peter Ind and Percy Heath- "Let real playing begin!". "Konitz" features the same band minus Heath and is the first time Lee had gone into the studio as front man and leader with his own handpicked sidemen. Recorded in Lee Tristano?s studio the Lee Konitz quartet "can take its place alongside the most important musical groups in jazz." All four albums have been digitally re-mastered . (AVID Entertainment) Price: £8.99
A BEBOP SHOP MILESTONE- An essential recording for your jazz CD shelf Price: £9.99
With a trio featuring Lighthouse All-Star alum Jimmy Rowles on piano and Michael Moore on bass, Kontiz called out old and familiar songs. The intention was to "let the tunes happen" as only finely tuned jazz musicians of certain experience can. Of note is "Lady Be Good" which finds Konitz and Rowles quoting Lester Young's solo from the 1936 recording with Count Basie.
From 1978, originally on the Choice label, this album has been remastered and is presented here as the artist intended, with its original title, track order and album artwork, for the first time since its original release. (Proper Music) Price: £13.99
The set showcases the work of Konitz in a variety of settings all derived from the Jazzpar All Star Nonet directed by saxophonist Jens Søndergaard, and it begins with three tracks recorded by Radio Denmark during the actual final concert of the series in Copenhagen's Falkoner Scenen. Sadly. Although this reissue had been in preparation for some months, it has now turned into a memorial for Konitz, who died at the age of 92 from complications of the virus Covid-19 on April 15, 2020. (Proper Music) Price: £11.99
