Lee Konitz

Lee Konitz -Alto Sax
Steve Swallow- Electric Bass
Paul Motian - Drums


Recorded at DRS Studio, Zurich, Switzerland on May 4 & 5, 1998.


Includes liner notes by Lee Konitz.

Lee Konitz, Steve Swallow, and Paul Motian are not merely three talented musicians. They are three uniquely creative instrumentalists who have made their own signature statements on their respective axes and invented singular voices in the process. When the three came together on the subtly titled THREE GUYS, a veritable maelstrom of unbridled creativity ensued. Konitz's peculiar wail, Swallow's supple, snaking lines, and Motian's impressionistic colors mesh into a liquid sound that captures the listener's attention immediately. They are at once smooth and jarring on readings of the standard "Come Rain or Come Shine" or Jobim's "Luiza." The trio bends and stretches the possibilities of group improvisation on markedly ingenious original creations like Motian's "From Time to Time," which features the composer in an explosive opening solo. Swallow's compelling swinger "Ladies' Waders" is a delightful romp that rings uncannily familiar in its approach to tradition. Finally, Konitz's closing "A Minor Blues In F," despite its simple title, is a masterful piece that finds the trio marking a new level in creative collaboration.