Lee Konitz Lee Konitz With Warne Marsh

TAS Rated 4.5/5 Music, 4.5/5 Sonics in the July/August 2019 Issue of The Absolute Sound!
High Quality Pure Analogue 180g Virgin Vinyl LP!
What a great rhythm group! A dream comes true: Oscar Pettiford and Kenny Clarke and then Billy Bauer on the guitar and alternately Ronnie Ball (UK) or Sal Mosca (USA) on the piano. No wonder that things really take off when these masters of improvisation from the Lennie Tristano school get going.
In June 1955, in the Atlantic studio, standards provided the starting base for the long and wonderfully sophisticated improvisations by Lee Konitz and Wayne Marsh, who were at that time pupils of the great Chicago maestro. Although the numbers are declared as own compositions, such as "Background Music" and "Ronnie's Line", they are actually none other than adaptations of "All Of Me" or "That Old Feeling" but at the very highest level. Lee Konitz always called this 'The Twelfth Step'. The repertoire is enriched by seldom-heard compositions by the great Oscar Pettiford. 'Time-keeping' a neologism of prime importance for jazz musicians is the most important element in "Donna Lee" and "There Will Never Be Another You" and there is no better drummer for this music than Kenny 'Klook' Clarke, who lived in those days in the USA before moving to Paris in 1956 where there was no racial discrimination.
Of course, you can buy these recordings on various digital discs. But that can’t be compared to a superb black disc and a cover with lines notes by the famous Barry Ulanov.
This Speakers Corner LP was remastered using pure analogue components only, from the master tapes through to the cutting head.
"Neither saxophonist goes for a rich full tone on his horn, preferring a subtler, more airy sound. And their improvisations utilize long, convoluted lines that may tax the concentration of uninitiated listeners. But the rewards are enormous, as this classic 1955 date demonstrates. The horns are joined by three fellow cool-schoolers: guitarist Billy Bauer and either Sal Mosca or Ronnie Ball (for one track) on piano. Oscar Pettiford and Kenny Clarke comprise a dream rhythm team, and the interplay among these accompanists is endlessly engaging. But it is the two principals who make this one a must, both for their challenging solos and brilliant unison statements of the complex themes. As we expect from Speakers Corner, audio and production values are exemplary." - Duck Baker, The Absolute Sound, July/August 2019

Features:

• 180g High Quality Vinyl
• Pure Analogue
• Made from the original, analogue master tapes
• Pressed at Pallas/Germany
• Faithful reproductions of original artwork and labels

Musicians:

• Lee Konitz, alto saxophone
• Warne Marsh, tenor saxophone
• Sal Mosca, piano
• Billy Bauer, guitar
• Oscar Pettiford, bass
• Kenny Clarke, drums
• Ronnie Ball, piano on "Ronnie's Line"

Selections:

Side A
1. Topsy
2. There Will Never Be Another You
3. I Can't Get Started
4. Donna Lee
Side B
1. Two Not One
2. Don't Squawk
3. Ronnie's Line
4. Background Music

Recording: June 1955 at Coastal Studio, New York City, by Tom Dowd in Mono Production Nesuhi Ertegun