Lee Konitz

• TWO OF KONITZ'S BEST ALBUMS EVER ON A SINGLE CD

• FEATURING BILLY BAUER, SAL MOSCA, SHADOW WILSON & DAVE BAILEY

In talking of Very Cool, Lee said: “Most of all, I’ve tried to get in closer contact with my feelings. I’m aware more of the time of what I’m really doing and of how it feels to me. Now, that may sound cryptic, but years ago, I remember playing with Lennie Tristano in a club. We went off stand at the end of a set. I was disturbed that there could be that distance between how I felt and how I had sounded to him. These days, it’s much closer –how I feel and how I sound. The most important thing, I’ve discovered, that I can do is to be myself when I’m playing. I’m not as concerned anymore with setting the world on fire with original music. If it comes, it comes; the main thing is to enjoy playing. I don’t care if I’m playing straight melody; I can get satisfaction out of that. I’ve heard some of the young kids go through their paces, and when they land on one note or two notes of a melody, they give it away with the corniest vibrato and sound like a studio man. Playing a melody well isn’t as easy as they think. I’m really concerned with playing one good note. In a number of the young jazzmen, I hear all of the proper ingredients, but I don’t hear one note having the player’s personal feeling. I think, on the other hand, that I’m using my own feeling when I play.” (From the original liner notes)

PERSONNEL:

• Lee Konitz plays alto sax on all tracks.

• ON TRACKS [1-6]: THE LEE KONITZ QUINTET "VERY COOL"
• Don Ferrara (tp), Sal Mosca (p), Peter Ind (b), Shadow Wilson (d). New York, May 5, 1957.

• ON TRACKS [7-14]: THE LEE KONITZ QUARTER "TRANQUILITY"
• Billy Bauer (g), Henry Grimes (b), Dave Bailey (d). New York, October 22, 1957.

TRACKS:

• 01) SUNFLOWER
• 02) STAIRWAY TO THE STARS
• 03) MOVIN’ AROUND
• 04) KARY’S TRANCE
• 05) CRAZY SHE CALLS ME
• 06) BILLIE’S BOUNCE
• 07) STEPHANIE
• 08) MEMORIES OF YOU
• 09) PEOPLE WILL SAY WE’RE IN LOVE
• 10) WHEN YOU’RE SMILING
• 11) SUNDAY
• 12) LENNIE BIRD
• 13) THE NEARNESS OF YOU
• 14) JONQUILV

• TOTAL TIME: 75 MIN.