Lee Konitz - Rhapsody (1993)

Konitz's liking for unusual and challenging company leads to a particularly rewarding set of performances on this disc. No two tracks share the same personnel; the album basically alternates between Konitz-and-vocalist tracks (with singers Helen Merrill, Judy Niemack & Jay Clayton) and highly abstract improvisations (either completely "free" or just very far-out themeless takes on standard changes). One memorable track has Konitz & Gerry Mulligan playing free jazz; another has a charming scat duo with Clark Terry; but the real meat of the album is in the 20-minute exploration of the chord-changes to "All the Things You Are" with Jimmy Giuffre, Paul Bley & Gary Peacock, and the 13-minute improvisation on "I Hear a Rhapsody"'s changes by Konitz + the Paul Motian Trio, in which Konitz & Joe Lovano whimsically switch back and forth between various horns. The tempos & mood of this album are mostly reflective & autumnal, but the music is also peculiarly astringent & experimental. The rhapsody of the vocal tracks is matched by the more private dialogues of the instrumentals. Demanding but rewarding, this is an essential Konitz album.(amazon)




Tracks:

*01.- I Hear A Rhapsody
*02.- Lo-Ko-Mo-And Frizz
*03.- The Aerie
*04.- Trio #1
*05.- All The Things You Are
*06.- Exposition
*07.- Flyin'-Mumbles And Jumbles



Personnel:

*Lee Konitz: alto sax, soprano sax, tenor sax
*Ben Allison: Bass
*Paul Bley: Piano
*Jay Clayton: Vocals
*Joe Clayton: Vocals
*Bill Frisell: Guitar
*Jimmy Giuffre: Clarinet
*Joe Lovano: Soprano sax, Tenor sax, alto clarinet
*Helen Merrill: Vocal
*Paul Motian: Drums
*Gerry Mulligan: baritono sax
*Judy Niemack: Vocals
*Gary Peacock: Bass
*Jean François: Prins Guitar
*Peggy Stern: Piano
*Clark Terry: Flugelhorn, Vocals, Scat
*Jeff Williams: Drums









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