Lee Konitz, Harold Danko - Wild as Springtime (G.F.M./Candid, 1984)

This post is by Dan

Lee Konitz (as); Harold Danko (p)

Recorded March 29, 30 and April 3, 1984

In an earlier post, Scott draws attention to the large number of duet recordings made by Lee Konitz accompanied by piano. Wild as Springtime qualifies as one of the best of that collection and is my particular favorite. It's a studio recording made in Glasgow, Scotland and originally released on the Scottish G.F.M. imprint. The Candid reissue preserves the original cover art (left), which shows a spotlighted alto sax neck and mouthpiece protruding from the ground surrounded by 7 cylindrical pillars. Gotta have a wild imagination to create something like that! 

A later reissue chose a different cover that is clearly more conventional but not as "interesting," shall we say. Completing the photo gallery is a grainy picture of Konitz and Harold Danko playing together at about the time of the recording. 

Throughout many years of listening, I've admired the talents of these two artists. Konitz records date back to the very early 1950s, years before my awakening to jazz. Harold Danko came onto my radar screen through his recordings with Chet Baker in the 1970s and through his long series of quartet, solo, and trio albums for SteepleChase. He's another in my select group of "no wrong notes" pianists.

The program on Wild as Springtime is interesting: two tunes that Konitz recorded in 1951, two Danko and two Chick Corea compositions, and one by Frederick Chopin. The basic formula is for Konitz to state themes and solo over Danko's accompaniment and for Danko to solo without accompaniment. Danko proves to be more exploratory than his elder, adding special flourishes now and then. Konitz retains his customary dry tone and never fails to generate interesting phrases that fit the moment. 

The last two tracks are short duet performances without solos. "Hi, Beck" finds Danko playing counterpoint in the piano's upper register for the full 3:37 of the tune. "KO" is an even shorter free improvisation on which Danko can be heard plucking piano strings with one hand while hitting keys with the other. These small touches move the program from one that is merely expert to one that is ingeniously creative. 

Lee Konitz's 70-year recording career ended when he died two years ago from COVID-19 at the age of 92. His legacy is enormous. His recordings as a leader or co-leader exceed 200 albums, and he appeared on over 100 more, according to Discogs.