Lee Konitz has been one of the most distinctive stylists on alto sax, blending his lessons with Lennie Tristano and the influence of Charlie Parker into a sound that can't be mistaken for anyone else. His meeting with saxophonist Dave Liebman and pianist Richie Beirach, both of whom also studied with Tristano as young men, is full of surprises, whether they're exploring standards or Konitz's time-tested reworkings of them, or creating brand-new compositions on the spot in the studio. Beirach provides a strong foundation for the two soloists, whose adventurous, inspired solos are anything but predictable. Konitz is primarily heard on alto, with his dry yet swinging tone beautifully complemented by Liebman's poignant soprano sax, especially in the delightful take of "In Your Own Sweet Way." Konitz's familiar "Thingin'" is combined in a medley with its inspiration, "All the Things You Are," with Konitz taking the solo for the first tune and Liebman (on soprano) for the second, as Beirach skillfully accompanies each man. Konitz switches to soprano for several numbers, including the bittersweet ballad "Universal Lament" (co-written with Beirach) and "Migration," an unusual free jazz soprano sax duo improvisation with Liebman, along with a wild soprano sax duet of "Body and Soul" that takes this oft-recorded warhorse into new territory. All three men had long since proven themselves by the time of this 2010 session, which should be considered a highlight of each artist's respective, considerable discographies. - Ken Dryden
Eighty-three or not, saxophonist Lee Konitz never seems to lose his enthusiasm for new musical situations. In this one, he's shooting the breeze with Dave Liebman, a sax master of a later generation (though they were both Miles Davis employees, Konitz for Birth of the Cool in 1948-51, Liebman with the early electric bands in 1972-74) and the versatile pianist Richie Beirach. Given the sparse lineup and the devotion of all three players to floating improv melody and counterpoint free of the songs and harmonies they're based on, this is inevitably a pretty distilled jazz exercise that favours practised listeners. But it's the most human and humane of encounters. Beirach has a shrewd awareness of when the free-fall dances of his partners could use the odd bluesy chord-turn or harmony-anchoring chord, and his tender duet with Konitz on their impromptu Universal Lament (with the saxist unusually playing soprano, but massaging it into the alto's tonality) is wonderful. The songs are classic standards and originals. Body and Soul opens like two birds intoning their own approximation to the refrain, and What Is This Thing Called Love grippingly balances Liebman's tenor grittiness, Konitz's gauzy sound and Beirach's hard-swinging punch. - John Fordham
Tracks
01. In Your Own Sweet Way (Dave Brubeck)
02. Don't Tell Me What Key (Richie Beirach/Lee Konitz/ David Liebman)
03. Universal Lament (Richie Beirach/Lee Konitz)
04. Alone Together (Howard Dietz/Arthur Schwartz)
05. Knowinnglee (Richie Beirach/David Liebman)
06. Solar (Miles Davis)
07. Migration (Lee Konitz/David Liebman)
08. Things'/All the Things That...(Lee Konitz/David Liebman)
09. Trinity (Richie Beirach/Lee Konitz/David Liebman)
10. Body and Soul (Johnny Green)
11. Hi Beck (Lee Konitz)
12. What Is This Thing Called Love (Cole Porter)
LEE KONITZ alto saxophone, soprano saxophone (3, 7, 10)
RICHIE BEIRACH piano
DAVE LIEBMAN tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
Recorded May 2010 at CMP Studio, Zerkall, Germany
OutNote Records - OTN 006 France