Search - Lee Konitz, Greg Cohen, Joey Baron :: Some New Stuff

Some New Stuff
Lee Konitz, Greg Cohen, Joey Baron
Some New Stuff
Genres: Jazz, Special Interest, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (11) - Disc #1

Offhand in title and inspiration, Lee Konitz's Some New Stuff is splendid evidence of the alto saxophone veteran's versatility. Konitz describes the session as the result of John Zorn's urging him to set up and play with t...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Lee Konitz, Greg Cohen, Joey Baron
Title: Some New Stuff
Members Wishing: 3
Total Copies: 0
Label: Diw Records
Release Date: 1/23/2001
Album Type: Import
Genres: Jazz, Special Interest, Pop
Styles: Avant Garde & Free Jazz, Modern Postbebop, Bebop
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 634164093921, 4988044009394

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Offhand in title and inspiration, Lee Konitz's Some New Stuff is splendid evidence of the alto saxophone veteran's versatility. Konitz describes the session as the result of John Zorn's urging him to set up and play with the redoubtable team bassist Greg Cohen and drummer Joey Baron. The results are buoyant with an underlying crisp shove that recalls Konitz's fantastic Motion sessions. The tunes are, of course, every bit Konitz's. His viscous alto rises on Cohen's elastic bass and Baron's taut, chugging drums, but Konitz also finds all manner of small spaces to drop in notes and drop out altogether. The latter detail speaks to the altoist's lengthy career, all of which has prepared Konitz to make an ad hoc working band out of almost any set of musicians. Indeed, much here is in tribute to Konitz's cohort. "Lennie's" clearly invokes Tristano, and "For Atilla" nods to the late guitarist Atilla Zoller. Then there's "Debussy," which of course conjures one of Konitz's chief classical inspirations--and urges another listen to the great French Impressionist Music. Cohen and Baron sound perfectly at home here, as if they'd been jamming with Konitz for weeks on the road in preparation for Some New Stuff. --Andrew Bartlett

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CD Reviews

Konitz, Cohen and Baron.
Michael Stack | North Chelmsford, MA USA | 12/02/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)

"In early 2000, Lee Konitz was invited by John Zorn to record with Zorn's standard rhythm section-- bassist Greg Cohen and drummer Joey Baron. Cohen and Baron, known for their flexibility and virtuosity, prove a surprisingly good fit for the saxophonist. Konitz, for his part, is remarkably nimble and exciting, seemingly inspired by the band.



Most of the pieces are mid-tempo, light, flexible, and energetic-- opener "Lennie's" is as good an example of what to expect on the record as anything else. Konitz is light and bouncey, accompanied only by Baron, when Cohen comes in to anchor the proceedings, things tighten up a hair, sinking into a fantastic groove. This sort of loose-but-tight groove is evident throughout the album, with the standout tracks featuring superlative performances by one or more of the musicians-- one of the trademarks of Zorn's Masada is the rhythm section stealing the show from the soloist, and while Cohen and Baron are a touch more subdued then on Masada, their performances are nothing short of superb-- be it a feature for one or the other (Cohen's solo on "5th Avenue", Baron's on "L.T.") or simply superb accompaniment of the leader (patient developing "A Noble Tune"), the trio is brilliant. Konitz gets his chance to shine unaccompanied on "Soundlee", where he is lyrical, rhythmic, and surprisingly agile.



All in all, "Some New Stuff" is a good listen, well worth the investment for fans of Konitz or the rhythm section."