Search - Lee Konitz :: Rhapsody

Konitz in exploratory mood

N. Dorward | Toronto, ON Canada | 07/28/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."