Search - Lee Konitz :: Three Guys

A friendly gathering of masters

N. Dorward | Toronto, ON Canada | 04/21/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This recording is a notably relaxed meeting of three masters of their instruments, Lee Konitz, Steve Swallow & Paul Motian--veterans of the most strikingly innovative period of jazz (the late 1940s to the mid-1960s) who nonetheless are committed to playing jazz that sounds completely fresh & contemporary. On this recording they mull over a batch of originals & a couple standards. The standout track is perhaps the delicate reading of a Jobim tune, "Luiza"; there's also two interesting Motian tunes, which are more "modern" in conception than the more straightforward originals by Konitz & Swallow (which are mostly variants on standards like "Out of Nowhere").The reason for the comparatively low rating I've given this album is just that, despite the eminence of the players, _Three Guys_ is more of a friendly get-together than a really memorable summit conference. They all play well, but somehow no-one really approaches his peak, & Konitz is a player who typically thrives best on a challenge or an unfamiliar situation. (Compare the brief track lengths on this recording with the long exploratory readings of standards on _Alone Together_, where Konitz works with a pianist of almost contradictory aesthetic inclinations, Brad Mehldau.)A fine disc that perhaps ought to have been a terrific one. In any case, it's worth a listen."