Chesky Releases Lee Konitz on Multichannel SACD [HFR]

Chesky Records has announced the release of the album Parallels by Lee Konitz on Multichannel SACD (Chesky SACD 240).

Parallels is Konitz’ debut album on the Chesky Records label. On this album, Konitz plays alto saxophone and is backed by the longtime Phil Woods rhythm team of drummer Bill Goodwin and Steve Gilmore on bass, Peter Bernstein on guitar and guest performer Mark Turner on tenor saxophone.

Parallels is being issued by Chesky as a Hybrid Layer Multichannel SACD. It includes Multichannel SACD, Stereo SACD and Stereo CD versions of the music on the album and is compatible with SACD and CD equipment.

Chesky Records says that “This recording marks the manifestation of Lee’s desire to represent the “possibilities to be creative” in the organic, improvisational nature of Jazz by combining it with the parallel basis of Chesky Records’ recording philosophy – recreating a live, spontaneous event with the greatest accuracy possible, now dramatically improved via this Multi-Channel SACD format.

Parallels, a collection of Lee’s interpretations of standard Jazz cuts and original compositions as fresh as his groundbreaking work in the ‘50s and ‘60s, stands as clear evidence of his desire to examine the organic nature of Jazz and all of the opportunities to present spontaneous creativity and artistry to the listener. Parallels features breathtaking renditions of Irving Berlin’s “How Deep is the Ocean,” Hoagy Carmichael’s “Skylark,” and Lennie Tristano’s “317 East 32nd.”

A new track dedicated to longtime friend and mentor, Lenny Tristano entitled “LT” demonstrates the dissonant harmonizing and remarkable agility between the alto and tenor saxophones. The experimental and impulsive style on “Eyes,” a special track that Konitz spontaneously wrote with Turner, shows how young and prodigious saxophonists like Mark Turner are being heavily inspired by living legends. Lee Konitz has always been an artist who has defined his own terms of playing, even when surrounded by influences that seemed to sway the masses within the Jazz community. His ability to define himself and a particular style is in full force on this, a strong representation of West Coast-influenced, straight ahead and cool Jazz.”

Album Selections
1. How Deep Is The Ocean
2. For Hans
3. Skylark
4. LT
5. 317 East 32nd
6. Palo Alto
7. Eyes
8. Subconcious Lee

Availability
The Hybrid Multichannel SACD of Parallels by Lee Konitz is now in stock and available for purchase from Tower Records and the Acoustic Sounds and Chesky web sites. It will be available from other web sites and record stores that carry SACDs in the near future.