Altoist
Lee Konitz
and pianist
Paul Bley
had been aware of each other since the 1950s. They first recorded together in the 1970s for
Bley
's
IAI
label, although this 1997 meeting is actually their most rewarding joint recording. When
Konitz
solos on these seven veteran
standards
,
plays fairly straightforwardly, but when it is time for the piano solos,
stretches himself and shows why he was considered one of the earliest
free
stylists. With the flexible
Jay Anderson
and
Billy Drummond
on bass and drums, the lead voices have plenty of support no matter what direction they take the music.
was always a very open improviser, so this combination works quite well. Highlights include
"I'll Remember April,"
"Out of Nowhere,"
"I Want to Be Happy."
~ Scott Yanow