LEE KONITZ | PEGGY STERN - Lunasea (1992) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Altoist Lee Konitz certainly covers a lot of ground on this Soul Note CD. Performing with his recent discovery Peggy Stern on piano, guitarist Vic Juris, bassist Harvie Swartz, drummer Jeff Williams and percussionist Guilherme Franco, Konitz and his players perform everything from jams in the Lennie Tristano tradition and Brazilian pieces that are almost pop-oriented to free improvisations. Stern is quite impressive throughout the date. Classically trained, she proves from the start that she has a real talent at improvisation and is not afraid to take chances. Konitz sounds inspired by her presence and their interplay makes this an easily recommended set for adventurous listeners.  Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Subconscious Lee, No. 2 7:10
Lee Konitz
2     Femaleon 4:06
Lee Konitz / Peggy Stern
3     Bossa Tia 5:49
Peggy Stern
4     The Final Blow 4:31
Lee Konitz / Peggy Stern
5     Lunasea 5:27
Peggy Stern
6     Matter of Opinion 4:26
Peggy Stern
7     The Aerie 5:46
Peggy Stern
8     Leeway 6:13
Peggy Stern
9     Stanbye 4:20
Peggy Stern
10     To Peggy 3:25
Vic Juris / Lee Konitz
11     Solo Too 1:40
Peggy Stern
12     Opertune 6:00
Peggy Stern
13     Djuo 4:17
Lee Konitz / Peggy Stern
14     S'gone 5:52
Peggy Stern
15     P.s. 1:27
Lee Konitz / Peggy Stern
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Producer – Lee Konitz
Artwork [Cover Art] – Xerios
Bass – Harvie Schwarz
Drums – Jeff Williams
Guitar – Vic Juris
Painting [Cover] – Ann Kiehm
Percussion – Guilherme Franco
Piano, Producer – Peggy Stern

LEE KONITZ - "Leewise" ft. The Jazzpar All Star Nonet (1993) FLAC (tracks), lossless

On this diverse and highly enjoyable set altoist Lee Konitz is heard in a variety of settings. Five songs (four of them recently composed) feature Konitz interacting with a fine Danish nonet and on "Subconscious Lee" he is showcased in a quintet with flugelhornist Allan Botchinsky and pianist Peggy Stern. However it is his six duets (with Stern, Botchinsky, bassist Jesper Lundgaard and fellow altoist Jens Sondergaard) that are most notable. Konitz, who can play as freely as any avant-gardist, somehow always sounds relaxed and thoughtful, turning these duets into comfortable dialogues. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Partout 7:08
Ole Kock Hansen
2     Alone Together 2:05
Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz
3     Body and Soul 6:02
Frank Eyton / Johnny Green / Edward Heyman / Robert Sour
4     Leewise 8:01
Fredrik Lundin
5     Jesperlee 2:07
Lee Konitz / Jesper Lundgaard
6     Subconscious Lee 7:28
Lee Konitz
7     Peggy Lee 2:37
Lee Konitz / Peggy Stern
8     Skygger (Shadows) 5:50
Butch Lacy / Peter Poulsen
9     Allanlee 2:20
Allan Botschinsky / Lee Konitz
10     Pazzenger 7:43
Peggy Stern
11     Jenslee 1:15
Lee Konitz / Jens Søndergaard
12     Stardust 6:22
Hoagy Carmichael / Mitchell Parish
Credits :
Bass – Jesper Lundgaard
Bass Tuba, Tuba – Niels Gerhardt
Drums – Svend-Erik Nørregaard
Piano – Butch Lacy, Peggy Stern (pistas: 3, 6, 7, 10, 12)
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone – Lee Konitz
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Jens Søndergaard
Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Peter Gullin
Trombone – Erling Kroner
Trumpet – Jeff Davis
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Allan Botchinsky
Vocals – Birgitte Frieboe (pistas: 8)

LEE KONITZ - Rhapsody (1995) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Lee Konitz's Evidence release has seven selections from the veteran altoist that utilize different all-star personnel. The performances all have a similar commitment to relaxed and melodic freedom, but some work better than others. "I Hear a Rhapsody" (featuring a haunting vocal by Helen Merrill) precedes a more abstract "Rhapsody" (titled "Lo-Ko-Mo-And Frizz") which has wandering interplay by Konitz (on alto, soprano, and tenor), Joe Lovano (switching between tenor, alto clarinet, and soprano), guitarist Bill Frisell, and drummer Paul Motian. Jay Clayton's beautiful voice and adventurous style is well displayed on "The Aerie," and baritone great Gerry Mulligan sounds reasonably comfortable on a free improvisation with Konitz and pianist Peggy Stern, but a fairly straightforward vocal by Judy Niemack on "All the Things You Are" is followed by an overlong (19-minute) exploration of the same chord changes (renamed "Exposition") by the quartet of Konitz, clarinetist Jimmy Giuffre, pianist Paul Bley, and bassist Gary Peacock; their different approaches never really mesh together, and this selection is a bit of a bore. The final performance, an extroverted duet by Konitz (on soprano) and flügelhornist Clark Terry (titled "Flyin': Mumbles and Jumbles") adds some badly needed humor to the set. While one can admire Lee Konitz for still challenging himself after all this time, some of the dryer material on the CD (especially the two quartet numbers) should have been performed again; maybe the next versions would have been more inspired. Scott Yanow  
Tracklist :
1     I Hear a Rhapsody 4:31
Jack Baker / George Fragos / Dick Gasparre
Alto Saxophone – Lee Konitz
Piano – Peggy Stern
Vocals – Helen Merrill
2     Lo-Ko-Mo-And Frizz 12:05
Bill Frisell / Lee Konitz / Joe Lovano / Paul Motian
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Lee Konitz
Drums – Paul Motian
Guitar – Bill Frisell
Tenor Saxophone, Alto Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone – Joe Lovano
3     The Aerie 7:11
Peggy Stern
Alto Saxophone – Lee Konitz
Bass – Ben Allison
Drums – Jeff Williams
Piano – Peggy Stern
Vocals – Jay Clayton
4     Trio, No. 1 8:52
Lee Konitz / Gerry Mulligan / Peggy Stern
Baritone Saxophone – Gerry Mulligan
Piano – Peggy Stern
Soprano Saxophone – Lee Konitz
5     All the Things You Are 5:07
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
Guitar – Jean François Prins
Soprano Saxophone – Lee Konitz
Vocals – Judy Niemack
6     Exposition 19:00
Paul Bely / Paul Bley / Jimmy Giuffre / Lee Konitz / Gary Peacock
Bass – Gary Peacock
Clarinet – Jimmy Giuffre
Piano – Paul Bley
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone – Lee Konitz
7     Flyin': Mumbles and Jumbles 5:55
Lee Konitz / Clark Terry
Flugelhorn, Scat – Clark Terry
Soprano Saxophone, Scat – Lee Konitz

LEE KONITZ & THE BRAZILIAN BAND - Brazilian Rhapsody (1995) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This CD focuses primarily on Brazilian standards performed by the Konitz sextet, except for the Brazilian-flavored "Lunasea," written by Peggy Stern, which features her high school choir. "Berimbau" is swinging and percussive, while the well-known "Insensatez" takes many unexpected turns. "Triste" is also a familiar theme played with relish. Vocalist Adela Dalto makes a strong impression with her guest spot on "A Felicidade." Konitz's duet with the phenomenal acoustic guitarist Romero Lubambo on "Manha De Carnaval" is breathtaking. Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     Samba Triste 7:28
Billy Blanco / Baden Powell
2     Berimbau 7:27
Ray Gilbert / Vinícius de Moraes / Baden Powell
3     Menina Moca 6:10
Luiz Antonio
4     Triste 6:32
Antônio Carlos Jobim
5     Felicidade 6:27
Antônio Carlos Jobim / Vinícius de Moraes
6     Lunasea 5:59
Peggy Stern
7     Manha de Carnaval 4:07
Luiz Bonfá / Antônio Maria
8     Insensatez 6:14
Antônio Carlos Jobim / Vinícius de Moraes
Credits :
Acoustic Guitar – Romero Lubambo
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Lee Konitz
Bass – Dave Fink
Drums – Duduka Da Fonseca
Percussion – Waltinho Anastacio
Piano – Peggy Stern
Vocals – Adela Dalto (pistas: 3)

LEE KONITZ - Rhapsody II (1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This follow-up to Rhapsody is another eclectic mix, with 19 tracks featuring the veteran alto saxophonist in various small group settings. Baritone sax great Gerry Mulligan and the leader flesh out an inspired duet of "Lover Man" and pianist Peggy Stern joins them for the spacy, extemporaneous "Trio #2." The brilliant flugelhornist Clark Terry is only featured on three very brief improvisations based on "Indiana," which is wasting a great talent. Konitz switches to soprano sax for a moody version of "You Don't Know What Love Is" with vocalist Sheila Jordan and bassist Harvie Swartz. This is an interesting but not essential CD that falls short of its namesake predecessor and The Lee Konitz Duets (Original Jazz Classics). Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     Body and Soul 8:07
Frank Eyton / Johnny Green / Edward Heyman / Robert Sour
2     Short Cut, No. 2 1:10
Mark Feldman / Yuko Fujiyama / Lee Konitz
3     Another View 4:37
Lee Konitz / John Scofield
4     Lover Man 4:08
Jimmy Davis / Roger "Ram" Ramirez / Jimmy Sherman
5     Short Cut, No. 2 1:00
Mark Feldman / Yuko Fujiyama / Lee Konitz
6     Kary's Trance 5:46
Lee Konitz
7     Trio, No. 2 3:40
Lee Konitz / Gerry Mulligan / Peggy Stren
8     Indiana Jones, No. 1 0:58
Lee Konitz / Clark Terry
9     You Don't Know What Love Is 6:48
Gene DePaul / Don Raye
10     Variation, No. 1 2:09
Ben Allison / Lee Konitz / Peggy Stern / Jeff Williams
11     Variation, No. 2 5:45
Ben Allison / Lee Konitz / Peggy Stern / Jeff Williams
12     Some Blues 7:52
Lee Konitz / John Scofield
13     Short Cut, No. 3 1:16
Mark Feldman / Yuko Fujiyama / Lee Konitz
14     Indiana Jones, No. 2 1:29
Lee Konitz / Clark Terry
15     Round and Round and Round 3:32
Lee Konitz / Judy Niemack
16     Sittin' In 4:29
Lee Konitz / Kenny Werner / Frank Wunsch
17     Indiana Jones, No. 3 1:31
Lee Konitz / Clark Terry
18     Body and Soul/Finale 6:03
Frank Eyton / Johnny Green / Edward Heyman / Robert Sour
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lee Konitz (pistas: 1 to 4, 6 to 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18)
Baritone Saxophone – Gerry Mulligan (pistas: 4, 7)
Bass – Ben Allison (pistas: 6, 11), Harvie Swartz (pistas: 9)
Drums – Jeff Williams (pistas: 6, 11)
Flugelhorn – Clark Terry (pistas: 8, 14, 17)
Guitar – Jean François Prins (pistas: 15), John Scofield (pistas: 3, 12)
Harmonica – Toots Thielemans (pistas: 1, 18)
Piano – Frank Wunsch (pistas: 16), Kenny Werner (pistas: 1, 18), Peggy Stern (pistas: 6, 7, 10, 11), Yuko Fujiyama (pistas: 5, 13)
Soprano Saxophone – Lee Konitz (pistas: 5, 9, 13, 16)
Synthesizer – Kenny Werner (pistas: 1, 16, 18)
Tenor Saxophone – Lee Konitz (pistas: 11)
Violin – Mark Feldman (pistas: 2, 13)
Vocals [Vocal] – Judy Niemack (pistas: 15), Sheila Jordan (pistas: 9)
Notas.
Recorded June-September 1993 at The Studio, N.Y.C.