Lee Konitz

Two Lee Konitz with Jimmy Giuffre collaborations reunited here on one CD. In Lee Konitz Meets Jimmy Giuffre, Jimmy contributed as soloist and arranger of a five-piece saxophone section. The thoughtful, contrapuntal writing creates a delicate mood, where everybody gets a chance to blow, and the engaging work of Konitz, Bill Evans, and Warne Marsh provides extremely rewarding moments. On You and Lee, Jimmy employed only a brass section and rhythm to back the altoist. He chose to keep the brass tightly muted, working always as a section, with no individual solos. In all, these sessions are a skillful, fascinating mixture of tonal beauty and emotional improvising.

[1-9] Lee Konitz Meets Jimmy Giuffre: (Verve MGV8335)
Lee Konitz, Hal McKusick (as) Warne Marsh, ed Brown (ts) Jimmy Giuffre (bar,arr) Bill Evans (p) Buddy Clark (b) Ronnie Free (d)

New York, May 12 & 13, 1959.

[10-17] You And Lee: (MGV8362)
Ernie Royal, Marky Markowitz, Phil Sunkel (tp), Bob Brookmeyer, Eddie Bert, Billy Byers (tb). Lee (as) Bill (p) Sonny Dallas (b) Roy Haynes (d), Jimmy Giuffre (arr,cond).

New York, October 29, 1959.


Tracks: 01. Somp’m Outa’ Nothin’, 02. Someone to Watch Over Me, 03. Uncharted, 04. Moonlight in Vermont, 05. The Song You, 06. Palo Alto, 07. Darn that Dream, 08. When Your Lover Has Gone, 09. Cork ‘n Bib, 10. I’m Getting Sentimental over 11. Don’t Know What Love 12. Didn’t about 13. Ev’rything I’ve Got (Belongs to You), 14. You’re Clear out of this World, 15. Are Too Beautiful, 16. More See 17. Driving Me Crazy