(Post-Bop, Cool) Lee Konitz: Lunasea, w. Peggy Stern (1992) / Unleemited, w. Kenny Werner (1992, 2001) / Lee Konitz 4tet: Listen... Silent (2002) - MP3, 320 kbps

Altoist Lee Konitz certainly covers a lot of ground on this Soul Note CD. Performing with his recent discovery Peggy Stern on piano, guitarist Vic Juris, bassist Harvie Swartz, drummer Jeff Williams and percussionist Guilherme Franco, Konitz and his players perform everything from jams in the Lennie Tristano tradition and Brazilian pieces that are almost pop-oriented to free improvisations. Stern is quite impressive throughout the date. Classically trained, she proves from the start that she has a real talent at improvisation and is not afraid to take chances. Konitz sounds inspired by her presence and their interplay makes this an easily recommended set for adventurous listeners.

In another of its many quixotic duo projects that thrive in Europe but are deemed unmarketable in the birth country of jazz, Owl paired Lee Konitz, still blowing strong and sweet at age 64, and pianist Kenny Werner in a program of music by composer Alain Guyonnet.
The name Guyonnet may mean next to nothing in America, but for our purposes here, he provides some exceptionally graceful, lyrical tunes for Konitz and Werner to explore, and the duo sounds enchanted with the material. Konitz's wistful yet firmly placed alto sax lines circulate naturally and buoyantly over Werner's swirling lines and gentle reflections, sometimes with an unmistakable Brazilian accent in the rhythms.
On "O Gato" and "Brazilian Fondue," Werner harkens back to Meade "Lux" Lewis by playing celeste and couples the instrument's tinkling bell-like sounds with overdubbed piano to produce a pleasing, complex tangle of voices.
Recorded over three days in Geneva, this is one of many such Owl duo projects that the enterprising Sunnyside label recirculated in the U.S. in 2003 after the giant Universal Music conglomerate evidently passed on them. ~ Richard S. Ginell