Lee Konitz

Lee Konitz & The Brazilian Band – Brazilian Rhapsody (1996) [Japan 2016]
SACD Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 50:11 minutes | Front/Rear Covers | 2,04 GB
or FLAC 2.0 (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/48 kHz | Front/Rear Covers | 661 MB

This release focuses primarily on Brazilian standards performed by the Konitz sextet, except for the Brazilian-flavored “Lunasea”, written by Peggy Stern, which features her high school choir. “Berimbau” is swinging and percussive, while the well-known “Insensatez” takes many unexpected turns. “Triste” is also a familiar theme played with relish. Vocalist Adela Dalto makes a strong impression with her guest spot on “A Felicidade”. Konitz’s duet with the phenomenal acoustic guitarist Romero Lubambo on “Manha De Carnaval” is breathtaking.

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Lee Konitz – Supreme Jazz (2006)
SACD Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 & 5.1 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 70:58 minutes | Front/Rear Covers | 3,87 GB
or FLAC 2.0 Stereo (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Front/Rear Covers | 1,26 GB
Features Stereo and Multichannel Surround Sound | Membran Music # 223272

Lee Konitz is an American composer and alto saxophonist. He has performed successfully in a wide range of jazz styles, including bebop, cool jazz, and avant-garde jazz. Konitz’s association with the cool jazz movement of the 1940s and 1950s includes participation in Miles Davis’s Birth of the Cool sessions and his work with pianist Lennie Tristano. He was notable during this era as one of relatively few alto saxophonists to retain a distinctive style when Charlie Parker exerted a massive influence. Like other students of Tristano, Konitz was noted for improvising long, melodic lines with the rhythmic interest coming from odd accents, or odd note groupings suggestive of the imposition of one time signature over another. Other saxophonists were strongly influenced by Konitz, notably Paul Desmond and Art Pepper.

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Lee Konitz – Parallels (2001) [Reissue 2002]
SACD Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 & 5.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 58:28 minutes | Scans included | 3,19 GB
or FLAC 2.0 Stereo(converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/96 kHz | Full Scans included | 1,31 GB
Features Stereo and Quadrophonic Surround Sound | Chesky Records # SACD 240

Lee Konitz’s Chesky Records debut, now available in this Multi-Channel SACD format, demonstrates in full surround sound that Konitz continues to maintain his role as a true icon and legend of innovation within the Jazz community. Lee proves once again his unique improvisational ability by infusing his alto sax lines into the solid framework constructed by his quintet. This recording marks the manifestation of Lee’s desire to represent the “possibilities to be creative” in the organic, improvisational nature of Jazz by combining it with the parallel basis of Chesky’s recording philosophy – recreating a live, spontaneous event with the greatest accuracy possible, now dramatically improved via the SACD format.

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Lee Konitz – Dig Dug Dog (1997) [Japan 1999]
SACD Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 50:08 minutes | Artwork | 2,44 GB
or FLAC (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/96 kHz | Complete Artwork | 1,06 GB

Lee Konitz had been on tour in Japan when he went into the studio with the Laurent de Wilde trio and recorded this album. He’s joined on three numbers by Keiko Lee, a smokey Japanese vocalist. The result is somewhat out of the ordinary. There are three Konitz compositions including a reworking of “Thingin'”. The rest are standards with an excellent version of Miles Davis “Solar” and Theolonius Monk’s “Ruby my dear”. On both these tracks his tone is excellent, and across the album as a whole the trio are an excellent foil for his playing. Keiko Lee provides an excellent set of vocals, and thankfully Konitz only gets to scat on one of the tracks.Two final thoughts. One, the recording level is ridiculously quiet,you have to turn up at least a couple of notches to hear the album at its best. Secondly, if you like this album you should make every effort to get hold of the Sony France album by the de Wilde trio called “Spoon-a- rhythm”. A refreshing attempt to do something new from Konitz.

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