More Live-Lee

On More Live-Lee, saxophonist Lee Konitz is joined for an intriguingly spare set with pianist Alan Broadbent. This atypical setting allows for subtle interplay and the type of quiet nuances impossible in larger settings. The duo allow "Body and Soul" to drift at a lazy pace as Konitz's horn weaves slow, lovely lines and Broadbent adds tasteful, though minimal, flourishes. There are a couple other nice stabs at classic material, including an eight-minute take on "I Can't Get Started" and a seven-minute version of "How Deep Is the Ocean?" These two players even manage to inject a bit of pizzazz into a warhorse like "You Go to My Head." Several of these pieces, however, have been written by Konitz and have a decidedly more contemporary feel. On "Thingin'," Broadbent keeps a steady bassline as he plays a nifty solo comprised of individual notes and block chords, while "Nothin'" gives Konitz a chance to explore varying shades as his solo climbs and descends without accompaniment. The duo also offer lively interchanges on "Lennie's," "Bending Broadly," and the closer, "Just Friends." Simply presented and executed, More Live-Lee delivers a full, satisfying set by two fine performers playing at the top of their game. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford Jr.