Palo Alto: Music By & For Lennie Tristano & Lee Konitz (2002)

Glenn Astarita

Senior Contributor since 1997

Longtime contributor to AAJ and Downbeat, Jazz Review, EjazzNews, Radio DirectX.

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Published: December 26, 2002

Palo Alto: Music By & For Lennie Tristano & Lee Konitz

Attenzione! Hot off the presses from Italy: A quartet of ambitious jazz musicians perform the music of “cool” bop acolytes and astute visionaries - saxophonist Lee Konitz and pianist Lennie Tristano. And other than a few original compositions, this group casts an enlightening bop aura to pieces such as Tristano’s “Ablution” and works by Konitz. Essentially, this guitar-sax led quartet melds fiery, yet at times heartwarming solos with the rhythm section’s pliant and thoroughly grooving tactics. There’s a radiant glean that ensnares this fine effort. Not only do the musicians fully grasp the masters’ complex artistry, but effectively integrate a custom-made, cooperative approach to the material. Here, they mix it all up rather nicely, via perky unison choruses and climactically oriented soloing.

We don’t want to endlessly restate previous sentiments, but there’s a plethora of stylishly inventive music emanating out of Italy. For those unfamiliar with Konitz and/or Tristano’s respective and intertwined legacies, this might be a good place to start. Ultimately, this release serves as a showcase for how an intelligent consortium of musicians can transfer historically significant concepts into novel propositions. Recommended...

Palo Alto

Track Listing: 1.Lennie

Personnel: Nicola Fazzini: alto sax

Record Label: Panastudio Productions
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream