Look, I really like each of these guys, and have tons of each of their albums. Who doesn’t have something by Lee Konitz? For Pete’s sake, he played with Mulligan back in the 50s, and has been on the creative edge ever since. Ditto for the careers of the rest of these guys; no one is resting on their laurels or hardys. Here, at a gig back in June 11 at New York’s Blue Note, these four left of centered artists stretch, bend, explore and meander over standards like “Body and Soul,” “I Remember You,” and “What Is This Thing Called Love” to the point where someone could use these versions as the ultimate take of “Name That Tune.” Most of the songs can only be identified by having the chord changes embedded into your dna, as Konitz, with his alto that seems to be getting raspier by the day, abstractly improvises simultaneously with Frisell’s peekaboo guitar meanderings. The songs are almost all at the same trodding tempo, which comes across like layer upon layer of volcanic lava. Free form, with a toe dipped into the mainstream, but which brings memories of the classic jazz book Where’s The Melody.
Half Note Records