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Jeff Denson Trio: Jeff Denson Trio + Lee Konitz
ByDenson has worked extensively with Konitz in recent times, touring with the saxophonist as part of The Lee Konitz New Quartet and appearing on three albums with that groupDeep Lee (Enja, 2008), Live At The Village Vanguard (Enja, 2010), and Standards Live: At The Village Vanguard (Enja, 2014). But here, the shoe is on the other foot. Konitz is the guest in Denson's world, but it's a world that the bassist has shaped around Konitz's past. The saxophonist's well-known "Subconscious Lee" appears twice, Warne Marsh's "Background Music" gives Konitz and Denson a chance to glide along together and solo in gleeful fashion, and Denson honors the relationship between Konitz and Tristano by pulling out numbers like the pianist's "Baby" and "East Thirty-Second," semi-obscurities with snaking bop-based lines.
Élan is tempered by looseness of swing and comfortable tempos throughout this affair. Pianist Dan Zemelman and drummer Jon Arkin prove to be sensitive and supportive in their work, Denson delivers the goods, whether singing a classic or sidling along with his bass, and Konitz plays it cool and straight in his delivery. Or at least as straight as Lee Konitz can play it. Nothing is forced and there's a beautifully casual quality to the music. These performances may seem a bit conservative when measured against some of the saxophonist's other recordings in recent times, but they're no less enjoyable. This is an eminently listenable date.
Track Listing
Baby; Duet; Blue Skies; East Thirty-Second; Subconscious Lee; Body And Soul; Background Music; Kary's Trance; Skylark; 317 East 32nd Street; Subconscious Lee.
Personnel
Jeff Denson
bassJeff Denson: bass, vocals; Lee Konitz: alto saxophone, vocals; Dan Zemelman: piano; Jon Arkin: drums.
Album information
Title: Jeff Denson Trio + Lee Konitz | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Ridgeway Records
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