Artist: Lee Konitz

Artist: Lee Konitz

Artist: Kenny Wheeler, Lee Konitz, Dave Holland, Bill Frisell

ECM Don't Make Them Like This Anymore, Do They?, 2008-06-03
The first surprise of this disc is the lack of a drummer in this interestingly assembled quartet. It gives the album a loose gentle feel which suits the players well. Instead of having a clear shape the musicians seem to collide with each other during the course of the pieces like clouds on a summer's day.

Wheeler's brass has the strongest sound on the album bristling through his solos providing a focal point whenever he's playing. Konitz and Frisell demonstrate some lovely interplay with each seeming to complement each other. Holland, surely one of the finest and most subtle bassists around provides the depth and again eases his sound around Frisell's beautiful guitar playing.

It's nice to listen to Frisell playing on another ECM album. Some of his finest work has been with the label and his playing here sometimes echoes a lot of his earlier work for ECM. At times it hints at the work he did with Jan Garbarek and at other times his own solo work for the label. Konitz is the other star performer, his playing complemented by slight delay added to his sound to make a gentle rounded sound to it. Wheeler has a somewhat plaintive tone at times and it is utilised well with the guitar bed that Frisell lays down for him.

The sound is wonderfully organic. Drums would spoil the overall effect. It's almost churlish to pick out a highlight as almost all of the album is of exceptionally high quality. "Nonetheless" is a lovely gentle bluesy piece whilst "Kind Of Gentle" has some of the finest of Frisell's recent work and a lovely saxophone line too.

Evoking some memories of much earlier ECM works this set is a real gem. Relaxed and beautifully played throughout. If you're one of those people who thinks ECM doesn't make the gentle quiet pieces that they used to back in the late 70's and through the 80's this quartet might be just what you're looking for.

Artist: Gerry Mulligan, Lee Konitz

Artist: Lee Konitz

Rated: Exempt
Artist: Lee Konitz

Artist: Lee Konitz

Artist: Lee Konitz

Artist: Grace Kelly, Lee Konitz

Artist: Konitz Lee