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Konitz / Mehldau / Haden / Motian: Live at Birdland
Track review of "Oleo"The advantage this "Oleo" has over others is the power of suggestion it garners from each player's restraint. There's a passage at 1:40, when Konitz appears to quote the William Tell Overture, but almost immediately renegespossibly upon realizing that the context gives the phrase a kitschier Lone Ranger vibe than suits the piece. When Mehldau finally enters at 2:40, it's almost as if by accidentlike a party guest trying to deliberately divert attention from the fact that he's two hours late by slinking in, chameleon-like, and joining the conversation in medias res. The bulk of the performances are assembled this wayas if the musicians are building a matchstick house, lovingly rendering each addition with the lightest touch possible to ensure that no single motion destroys the integrity of the whole. It's almost that the lack of tension gives the performance a suspense it couldn't otherwise achieve. The players are so kind to each other, it seems they must be dancing around some phrase or statement that they're just dying to make outright.
Once the foundation is in place, Mehldau takes off on what proves to be the track's flightiest solo, freely adventuring into crevices of the structure miles away from the theme that Konitz always keeps nearby. Gradually he brings his exploration back to the piece's melodic nucleus, ending at its tonal center to reverently enthusiastic applause. Haden and Motian briefly engage in the kind of dialogue characteristic of players trying to keep off each other's toes, after which Konitz and Mehldau return, clawing at each other for two minutes before restating the head and riding this old workhorse off into the sunset, Lone Ranger-style.
Personnel
Lee Konitz
saxophone, altoLee Konitz: alto saxophone; Brad Mehldau: piano; Charlie Haden: bass; Paul Motian: drums.
Album information
Title: Live At Birdland | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: ECM Records
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Konitz / Mehldau / Haden / Motian
CD/LP/Track Review
Lee Konitz
Kevin Davis
ECM Records
United States
Paul Motian
Sonny Rollins
brad mehldau
Charlie Haden
Live at Birdland