egroj world: Lee Konitz • Sound of Surprise

Saturday, March 2, 2024

Lee Konitz • Sound of Surprise

Review
by Michael G. Nastos
While Whitney Balliett coined the phrase "sound of surprise" to describe jazz, it also pretty well sums up the entire career of Lee Konitz, whose fluid, dynamic alto has been a constant source of inspiration, distinction, and clarity. This effort teams him with such empathetic instrumental foils as Ted Brown John Abercrombie Marc Johnson and Joey Baron, who are superb rhythmic navigators, plotting interesting paths for Konitz with metered maps of their own drafting. Brown, a quite literate tenor saxophonist much in the style of old Konitz confrere Warne Marsh, has never had much use for the music business, and is rarely heard anymore. But he drops in here, shining on four cuts. The loose, freewheeling "Hi Beck" finds Brown and Konitz in unison, then counterpointed on heads and tails, with Baron tastefully trading eights in between. They play individual lines during the course of the ballad "Soddy & Bowl" but are firmly welded together for "Thingin'," the now-obligatory Konitz adaptation of "All the Things You Are." With Abercrombie, who is much more reserved and less affected, they do a crisp bossa line of "Mr. 88," the swinging bopper "Friendlee," and "Crumbles," a good swinger with upper-register melody. The bluesy "Bits & Pieces" is randomly tossed about, as Johnson drops out and then saunters back in with a solo, as does the roiling Baron. The famous "Subconsciouslee" finds each member playing by himself, then together, then with solos and rhythmic backup. Baron is really head and shoulders above most drummers; his dynamic concept consistently commands attention. Yet another fine recording from Konitz, this adds to an already immense discography that seems to get broader and deeper as it lengthens.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/sound-of-surprise-mw0000604483

///////

Reseña
por Michael G. Nastos
Aunque Whitney Balliett acuñó la frase "sonido de la sorpresa" para describir el jazz, también resume bastante bien toda la carrera de Lee Konitz, cuyo alto fluido y dinámico ha sido una fuente constante de inspiración, distinción y claridad. Este trabajo le acompaña con instrumentos tan empáticos como Ted Brown, John Abercrombie, Marc Johnson y Joey Baron, que son magníficos navegantes rítmicos, que trazan caminos interesantes para Konitz con mapas medidos de su propia autoría. Brown, un saxofonista tenor bastante instruido, muy del estilo del viejo colega de Konitz, Warne Marsh, nunca ha tenido mucha utilidad para el negocio de la música, y ya no se le escucha casi nunca. Pero aquí se deja caer, brillando en cuatro cortes. La suelta y desenfadada "Hi Beck" encuentra a Brown y Konitz al unísono, luego contrapunteando en cara y cruz, con Baron intercambiando ochos con buen gusto entre medias. Tocan líneas individuales durante el curso de la balada "Soddy & Bowl", pero se unen firmemente para "Thingin'", la ya obligatoria adaptación de Konitz de "All the Things You Are". Con Abercrombie, que es mucho más reservado y menos afectado, hacen una nítida línea de bossa de "Mr. 88", el swinging bopper "Friendlee", y "Crumbles", un buen swinger con melodía de registro superior. El blues de "Bits & Pieces" se lanza al azar, ya que Johnson se retira y luego vuelve a pasearse con un solo, al igual que el rugiente Baron. La famosa "Subconsciouslee" muestra a cada miembro tocando por sí mismo, luego juntos, luego con solos y apoyo rítmico. Baron está realmente por encima de la mayoría de los bateristas; su concepto dinámico llama constantemente la atención. Otra excelente grabación de Konitz, que se suma a una ya inmensa discografía que parece ser más amplia y profunda a medida que se alarga.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/sound-of-surprise-mw0000604483

Tracks:
1.Hi Beck 8:17
2.Gundula 3:46
3.Mr. 88 4:39
4.Bits And Pieces 3:00
5.Blues Suite 7:51
6.Friendlee 7:32
7.Soddy And Bowl 5:39
8.Singin' 2:26
9.Wingin' 6:40
10.Thingin' 7:26
11.Crumbles 5:33
12.Subconsciouslee 8:20

Lee Konitz: Alto Saxophone, Vocal
Ted Brown: Tenor Saxophone
John Abercrombie: Guitar
Marc Johnson: Bass
Joey Baron: Drums

Recorded on April 21 & 22 1999;
at Avatar Studios, New York

All titles composed by Lee Konitz
except #9 composed by everyone in the Band

Label:    BMG France – 74321 69309 2
Released:    1999
Genre:    Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/release/2435234-Lee-Konitz-Sound-Of-Surprise