When one considers the personnel of this quintet set (which features altoist Lee Konitz, valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer and drummer Paul Motian), the instrumentation (with includes both Henri Texier's acoustic bass and Steve Swallow's electric bass), and the fresh repertoire (two songs apiece from each of the five musicians), it is surprising to realize that this is essentially a straight-ahead bop date. Several of the "originals" are based on common chord changes ("Thingin" is "All the Things You Are,""Ladies' Waders" is "Bye Bye Blues," and there is the blues "Am(I)en(s)"; the playing overall is less adventurous than one might expect. However, the quality of the music is quite high; Konitz and Brookmeyer match well in their ensembles, and the bassists are colorful, with Swallow often taking solos in the upper register accompanied by Texier. So, putting expectations aside, this is actually an easily recommended date for collectors of cool-toned jazz. - Scott Yanow
Tracks
1. Respect (Henri Texier)
2. Thingin (Lee Konitz)
3. Too Much, Too Often (Steve Swallow)
4. Ladies' Waders (Steve Swallow)
5. In The Year Of The Dragon (Paul Motian)
6. Abacus (Paul Motian)
7. Lee And Me (Bob Brookmeyer)
8. Idyll (Bob Brookmeyer)
9. Am(i)en(s) (Lee Konitz)
10. Marcello Mastroianni (Henri Texier)
LEE KONITZ alto saxophone
HENRI TEXIER double bass
PAUL MOTIANdrums
STEVE SWALLOW electric bass
BOB BROOKMEYER valve trombone
Recorded April and May 1997 at Studio Gil Evans, Amiens.
Label Bleu - LBC 6612 France